Illegal sand mining along the Bo River in Thua Thien Hue Province
In 2012, Thua Thien Hue Province approved two sand mines, along Bo River in Huong Van Ward of Huong Tra Township and in Phong Son Commune of Phong Dien District.
But there are now at least four unlicensed major sand mines along the river, including one in Huong Van Ward of Huong Tra Township.
Even though illegal sand mining is openly conducted, Nguyen Xuan, chairman of Huong Van Ward People’s Committee said they were unaware any such operations.
Xuan said, “This area is sparsely populated and we lack the manpower to supervise the whole area.”
Illegal sand mining is also reported along the Bo River section running through Huong Xuan Ward of Huong Tra Commune in Huong Tra Township, as well as Quang Phu, Quang Thanh and Quang Tho Commues in Quang Dien District. It is also occurring along Tra Khuc River in Quang Ngai Province.
Illegal sand mining under Tra Khuc 2 Bridge in Quang Ngai Province
“Illegal sand mining is really noisy and miners often have arguments and even fight with each other, worrying those who live nearby,” said Nguyen Thi Thanh, a local woman from Le Hong Phong Ward in Quang Ngai City.
“Sand overexploitation has caused serious erosion in the lower land areas of the Tra Khuc River, forcing local people to travel across the river by ferry even during dry season,” said Bui Toi, head of An Phu Hamlet in Tinh An Commune of Quang Ngai City.
Ngo Quang Thao, the chairman of Huong Xuan Ward People’s Committee, said erosion has swept away over 5ha of cultivated land, affecting lives of nearly 500 households living along the river banks.
He said that in 2014 local authorities caught and fined 30 miners, and 10 had been fined since the start of the year.
“Fines are really slight, standing at only a few millions of VND, which does not make sense compared with large profits from illegal sand mining," Thao said.
