Between April-September 2022, Legacy Riverside Company was approved by local authorities to conduct a geological survey for their Dong Truong Son Ecological Resort which was planned to cover 98 hectares in Luong Son District. However, the company sent lots of machinery to the site and destroyed a large area of forest.
According to residents in Tan Vinh Commune, the Legacy Riverside Company started site clearance work in the local forest in 2022 and more forest area had been destroyed in early 2023 but local authorities took no action.
It was not until April 2023 that Tan Vinh Commune People's Committee checked and found out that five hectares of forest and aquaculture land had been illegally encroached by the company. Another check conducted in early May by the committee found that another two hectares of forest land had been encroached for the project.
Many residents have complained about the lax management of local authorities over the issue. The company's violations had been going on for a long time but concerned departments in Luong Son District only took action following complaints and reports from local people and the media.
The Luong Son District People's Committee then decided to give a fine of VND40 million (USD1,701) to Legacy Riverside Company for their violations. The company has also been asked to stop their site clearance work and prepare documents to seek a construction license for the project.
