Tighten mineral exploitation management before the rainy season

To respond, Hanoi has implemented many solutions, in which the city pays special attention to mineral exploitation management...

Authorities inspect a ship illegally mining sand on the Red River, through Dai Mach commune (Dong Anh district). *Photo: Thuy An*

Many violations were handled

In recent times, Hanoi has focused on implementing many synchronous solutions to strictly control mineral exploitation activities, in order to protect the environment and people's lives. According to statistics from the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, the whole city currently has more than 10 mines licensed to exploit minerals (soil, sand, stone...).

Since the beginning of the year, the Hanoi City Police force alone has discovered and handled many violations in mineral exploitation, but this situation still occurs... Specifically, on April 2, Waterway Police Team No. 2 (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police) presided over and coordinated with Department 8, Traffic Police Department ( Ministry of Public Security ) to handle the case of illegal sand dredging in the Red River section in Van Phuc Commune, Thanh Tri District. In this case, the working group discovered a waterway vehicle without a registration number or control number pumping sand from the riverbed into the cargo hold. At the time of inspection, those present could not present a mineral exploitation license issued by the competent authority at the exploitation location and did not have any related documents. The authorities drew up a record and temporarily detained the vehicle for handling according to the provisions of law...

Recently, in the early morning of May 29, Waterway Police Team No. 1 (Traffic Police Department, Hanoi City Police), Economic Police Department (Hanoi City Police) coordinated with functional units of the Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) to discover and arrest two vehicles illegally mining sand on the left bank of the Red River, in Dai Mach commune, Dong Anh district. Previously, at around 1:00 a.m. on May 29, these two vehicles had anchored on the Red River, through Lien Mac ward, Bac Tu Liem district to pump sand. When detecting the functional forces, the subjects driving the vehicles fled to the left bank of the Red River in Dai Mach commune, but were chased and arrested by the forces. Currently, the case is being verified and handled by professional units according to the provisions of law.

In fact, the inspection and handling of violations in mineral exploitation by the police force and localities partly reflects the determination of Hanoi city in tightening management of this field. In addition, the guidelines and circulars of the Law on Geology and Minerals in 2024 are being implemented, expected to help localities strengthen control over mineral exploitation activities more effectively...

Actively check and handle

The rainy and stormy season lasts from June 15 to October 15 every year. At that time, all mineral exploitation activities on the river must be temporarily suspended to ensure safety. With that requirement, the city's specialized forces also increased inspection and strict supervision during the rainy and stormy season with proactiveness and close attention... For example, implementing the plan of the Traffic Police Department, the Waterway Police force launched a peak period of general inspection and control of vehicles equipped with pumping, suction, and transporting sand, gravel, and rocks on rivers under its management. The implementation period of the plan is from June 1 to November 14. During this peak period, the Waterway Police force mobilized maximum forces, vehicles, and technical equipment; Synchronously and drastically deploy measures to inspect and strictly handle violations of order and safety of waterway traffic, especially for means of mining and transporting minerals, thereby preventing illegal sand and gravel mining, protecting traffic safety and river corridors in the capital.

According to experts, this year's storm season, compared to coastal provinces and cities or the midlands and mountainous areas of the North, Hanoi is less affected by natural disasters. However, clearly identifying this as a long-term task, risk prevention is an important task, right from the first months of 2025, Hanoi city has promptly deployed disaster response work, ensuring safety during the storm season, including mineral exploitation activities. Localities have also proactively implemented strict instructions on the management and effective use of mineral resources associated with environmental protection. Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Anh district Hoang Anh Tuan said that the Department has proactively advised the district People's Committee and coordinated with the police force to increase patrols and inspections of mineral exploitation activities in the area.

Tightening the management of mineral exploitation activities in the area, Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Xuan Dai said that the Department coordinates with relevant units to conduct inspections and checks on compliance with legal regulations for organizations and individuals engaged in mineral exploitation activities. The Department also coordinates with the City Inspection Team on the management of exploration, survey, planning, licensing, exploitation, and transportation of construction material mines in the area; at the same time, continue to implement regulations on coordination in mineral protection management, especially in the border areas between Hanoi and other provinces, strengthen the fight, detection, prevention, and handling of violations in illegal mineral exploitation activities...

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/siet-chat-quan-ly-khai-thac-khoang-san-truoc-mua-mua-bao-704536.html