Business
Illegal quarrying reaches alarming levels in Binh Phuoc
  • | laodong, dtinews.vn | August 07, 2019 08:38 AM
Binh Phuoc is facing rampant illegal stone and clay quarrying without suitable solutions.


 

Binh Phuoc is facing rampant illegal stone and clay quarrying


There are more than 10 stone quarries in Tan Thanh and each of them covers 2,500-10,000 square metres and 7-8 metres deep.

Recently, the local authorities have discovered a five-hectare quarry in Village 6, Bu Gia Map District. The deepest part is 10 metres deep. The owner admitted that the illegal quarrying activities started last November.

"The demands for construction materials increased recently. As a result, more stone mines have appeared in Tan Thanh Commune. Our commune is over 5,600 hectares but the management staff is thin," said Vuong Duc Tang, chairman of Tan Thanh Commune.

Meanwhile, the locals in Loc Thinh and Loc Hung communes are selling their lands as brickyards en mass. Only 15 brickyards have been licensed and 14 of them have been found with violations.

Only three clay pits were granted mining permits including Tan Khai Pit of Hong Minh Company, Chon Thanh pit of Trung Thanh Company and Thanh Luong pit of Hai Long Company. It is also discovered that a large amount of clay has been distributed around illegally.

Colonel Le Truong Son, head of the Environment Police Department in Binh Phuoc, said, "Last year, we dealt with three brickyards due to their polluting emissions. More than 10,000 cubic metres of clay without origin were seized. Since early 2019, the provincial authorities have set up a team to inspect the local brickyards."

In May, the Environment Police Department had fined Ho Bao Tuan VND7.5m for unlicensed mining. They also fined a firm in Loc Hung Commune VND80m and seized over 1,600 cubic metres of non-origin clay for dust and gas pollution and storing minerals illegally.

Despite the authorities' effort, the situation still hasn't been curbed.

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