More than 20 illegal gold mines in Moong Koong, Ha Tinh Province, have been demolished to date.
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| Gold mining equipment confiscated in Moong Koong |
Moong Koong area, located in Ky Son Commune, Ky Anh District, is 12km from National Highway 22, covering 18ha. In 2000, provincial authorities assigned Ha Tinh Mineral and Trading Company (Mitraco) to manage the area and take advantage of mineral resources. Between 2007 and 2010, a company in Bac Giang Province leased the area, but did not operate efficiently, so the firm returned it to Mitraco. After that, Mitraco handed over the area to the localities for management.
Taking advantage of the difficult terrain and Mitraco’s withdrawal, a number of people have rushed into Moong Koong to exploit the gold.
Despite intervention by local authorities, deforestation is a side effect of illegal gold mining, which, in turn causes erosion along the Rao Mon River. Many of the miners are under the age of 16.
The Chairman of Ky Son Commune People’s Committee, Duong Xuan Linh said, inefficient enforcement makes it difficult to deal with the criminals. The commune has proposed that the district People’s Committee enhance enforcement.
However, to prevent the exploiters from returning to the mines, the commune began to cooperate with the Corps of Engineers to completely destroy all illegal mines. The land would be transferred back to local farmers.
The illegal gold mining has also been a problem in Tro area in Vu Quang District, Ha Tinh Province, according to Lao Dong Newspaper.
Waste from the exploitation of gold mines has seriously affected the environment and threatened the health of local people, but local authorities claim that no such activities have been going on because they have dealt with all violations.
The same situation has also been seen in many localities in the central and Central Highlands region of Vietnam, including Tay Hoa District in Phu Yen Province; Phu Ninh District in Quang Nam Province; Quang Hoa Commune, Dak G’Long District in Dak Nong Province and Dak Pet Commune in Kon Tum Province.
Illegal gold mines in Hon Han, Phu Yen Province
Gold mine in Ha Tinh Province (photos: Lao Dong)
