Uncontrolled sand exploitation carried out along Lang Co Bay in Thua Thien Hue Province is having a negative impact on the world famous destination.
Illegal sand exploitation is damaging the coastline along Lang Co Bay
Illegal sand exploitation
In the middle of 2009, Lang Co Bay in Lang Co Town of Phu Loc District became a member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays Club, opening a new chapter for coastal tourism in the southern part of Thua Thien-Hue.
However, recently illegal sand exploitation has run rampant along the coast ranging from Loc Vinh Commune to Lang Co Town to serve local construction, harming the bay’s environment.
A journalist investigation in February showed that several trails have been opened in a previously untouched chestnut forest in Phu Hai 1 Hamlet of Loc Vinh Commune to facilitate sand exploitation.
Large holes were recorded in another chestnut forest in Phu Hai 2 Hamlet in the same commune as a result of illegal sand exploitation.
In Lang Co Town, several construction firms have used excavators and bulldozers for their sand exploitation in areas ranging from Nguyen Van Dat to Lang Co Bay’s beach, destroying several parts of the forest.
Thousands of cubic metres of soil and sand have been taken away, adding to the threat of salt encroachment.
The beach at Mui Doi and Lap An Lagoon as well as Tho Son in Loc Tien Commune have been also being damaged by illegal sand exploitation.
Several resort and high-end hotel investors along local beachfront locations have also added to the situation when levelling sand dunes in the surrounding area for road construction.
Serious environmental damage
Lax management
Uncontrollable sand exploitation has negatively affected the Chan May-Lang Co coastline in recent years, harming the bay and affecting local resident’s lives.
Even though illegal sand exploitation has been rampant around the Lang Co Bay in recent few years, local authorities have yet to apply strict penalties to resolve the situation.
Bui Ngoc Ga, Chairman of Loc Vinh communal People’s Committee told DTiNews that the local government has assigned officials in Phu Hai 2 Hamlet to manage the local chestnut forest.
Ga denied the rampant sand exploitation by saying that just a few local residents illegally exploiting sand for profit.
Ga said that land lot belongs to a local firm that had hired it for a resort project.
“Construction material companies are not allowed to exploit sand from along the coastline and local authorities had set up some watch towers. However, local authorities have faced difficulties in managing the sand exploitation as most of the watch towers were destroyed by storms in late 2011,” he admitted.
He denied a rumour that local sand exploiters were bribing the communal government to turn a blind eye to the work.
In the meanwhile, Tran Van Giang, Chairman of Lang Co Town’s People’s Committee, said it was difficult to stop illegal sand exploitation as it often occurred during the weekends when the local authorities were not working.
“Some land areas have been allocated to investors, hindering us from being able to follow what’s going on,” he noted.
