An Giang, Dong Thap and Vinh Long provinces deploy material supply for key highway projects

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh and the working group inspected sand mining on the Hau River.

From October 10 to October 12, 2023, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh had a working trip to the three provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long on planning, licensing, and exploitation of sand mines and plans to coordinate sources of filling materials to serve the construction of key traffic projects in the province and the Mekong Delta region. After the Minister's working session, the situation of supplying materials for the expressway project has had clear changes, and the initial implementation of providing a number of mines for the project has been implemented, specifically:

For An Giang province, on October 13, 2023, the People's Committee of An Giang province issued confirmation No. 900/XN-UBND to arrange for the Project 1.5 million m3 from the Vam Nao River Dredging and Flow Regulation Project, the project started operating from October 17, 2023. Currently, the Contractors are coordinating with the investor to complete the procedures for receiving sand to the construction site. In addition, 03 local sand mines (about 3.9 million m3) were introduced for the Contractor to survey and carry out procedures. Currently, the Contractors are conducting preliminary surveys and preparing a reserve survey outline to implement the next steps.

For Dong Thap province, the handover procedures for 01 An Nhon sand mine on Tien River in An Nhon commune, Chau Thanh (reserve of 0.55 million m3) have been completed and the Contractor has been exploiting since October 13, 2023. On October 14, 2023, Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee introduced 02 sand mines in Document 138/UBND-DTQH (reserve of about 2.2 million m3), expected to complete exploitation procedures in 2023.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh and Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Duy Lam conducted a field survey of a sand mine on the Tien River (Hong Ngu District, Dong Thap Province).

On October 21, 2023, the Provincial People's Committee held a handover ceremony of the location records, mining reserves, and environmental impact assessment reports of 04 sand mines to the Contractor serving the construction of the Can Tho - Hau Giang - Ca Mau expressway (reserves of about 3 million m3). It is expected to complete the procedures and put them into operation in October 2023. Thus, up to now, Dong Thap province has issued a document arranging and introducing mines for the Project of about 6 million m3 and is expected to arrange an additional 1.03 million m3 from the source of increased capacity, ensuring sufficient volume according to the direction of the Prime Minister.

On the morning of October 21, 2023, the Provincial People's Committee held a handover ceremony of location records, mining reserves, and environmental impact assessment reports of 04 sand mines to the Contractor serving the construction of the Can Tho - Hau Giang - Ca Mau expressway.

For Vinh Long province, the Provincial People's Committee has assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to advise on procedures to increase the capacity of the Vam Vung Liem 5 mine. On October 18, 2023, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment held a meeting on sand exploitation at this mine to serve the Expressway Project with a reserve of about 0.5 million m3, to be provided to the project in about October 2023. In addition, up to now, the Provincial People's Committee has approved the Contractors to carry out procedures for 04 mines to exploit to serve the Project with a reserve of about 3.3 million m3, expected to complete the procedures in 2023.

According to Mr. Tran Van Thi - Director of My Thuan Project Management Board, up to now, the three localities of An Giang, Dong Thap, Vinh Long have actively supported the project, initially promptly resolving the recent serious sand shortage. To meet the volume of sand for the Can Tho - Hau Giang and Hau Giang - Ca Mau projects (with a very large volume of 18.46 million m3). Mr. Thi hopes that in the coming time, the localities will pay more attention, promptly handle difficulties and problems in the implementation process to complete the common work. At the same time, Mr. Thi also has some recommendations for localities to soon complete the procedures for the mines introduced to the contractors as committed, and at the same time introduce new mines to the contractors or increase the capacity from the mines currently operating to supply the Project according to the direction of the Government.

Previously, during a working trip to the three provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh said that accelerating the implementation of expressways and key projects in the Mekong Delta is very important for the overall development of the country, including the strategy of developing horizontal expressways connecting the Mekong Delta to the border economic zone, and vertical expressways connecting with Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region to promote economic development in the Mekong Delta; therefore, ministries, branches, provinces, cities, investors, and contractors must recognize the common responsibility in the implementation.

For localities, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh suggested focusing on removing legal procedures to provide materials to construction contractors. However, this must be done in accordance with legal regulations, and violations must absolutely not be legalized. Licensing and exploitation must always be associated with management and supervision. At the same time, with the difficulties proposed by localities, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is always ready to support localities in guiding the implementation of legal documents related to the natural resources and environment sector, experts, technicians, and databases. In addition, the Minister suggested that local leaders coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to implement dredging projects to regulate the flow to proactively have large sources of materials to supply for key projects.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh proposed focusing on removing legal procedures to provide materials to construction contractors in accordance with legal regulations.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh also noted that in addition to sand exploitation to serve the implementation of key projects, localities in the Mekong Delta must always focus on preventing landslides, associated with adapting to climate change. The Minister suggested that there should be a comprehensive investigation and assessment of sand and gravel reserves in the area. In management, there must be supervision to ensure that exploitation is in accordance with capacity and design, and to increase surprise inspections to effectively prevent illegal sand exploitation.

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