In mid-2017, the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and the Environment set up a taskforce in charge of supervising environmental rehabilitation after mine closures.

However, the pollution and serious consequences from soil and stone exploitation has remained a problem for the municipal authorities over the last two years.

Le Van Tuan, head of Phuoc Thuan hamlet in Hoa Vang district, said 15 percent of the 187 households in the hamlet are poor. 

Over the last 10 years, the hamlet has been surrounded by more than 10 mines. Pointing to the mountain near the end of the hamlet, Tuan said it was green in the past with plants and leaves, but it has now turned bare and dull yellow.

Since 2010, more than 20 fertile fields, which fed the entire hamlet, have become barren, unable to grow any plant. Previously, the water for irrigating the field was profuse thanks to more than 10 water sources in canyons. But quarries have cut off courses of stream and blocked the flows, turning the whole village into a desert.

Phuoc Thuan village is located close to the foot of the mountain. In the last few years, the sluices and drainage ditches there have filled up, which causes flooding in the rainy season.

According to the Da Nang environment department, 33 earth and stone mines have closed as the mining licenses have expired. However, at nine mines, the investors did not complete environmental rehabilitation and restoration as stipulated in the law. 

Localities in Hoa Vang district have seen the serious consequences from the environmental compromises caused by the mining. 

The exploitation at the earth mine in An Tan hamlet stopped two years ago. However, the miner did nothing to rehabilitate the environment. Local people have been living in fear that erosion and landslides may occur when it rains heavily.

The mine area where the Thuy Duong Construction & Trade worked is in the same situation. The company closed the mine four years ago, but has not fulfilled environmental rehabilitation.

In Hoa Nhon commune, there is no operating mine, but hundreds of hills have been fallow and the landslides may occur at any time.

In Da Nang, 30 mineral mines have valid exploitation licenses and 33 others have expired licenses, while 24 mines are undergoing rehabilitation work in accordance with plans approved by the local authorities. Four mines have not followed the required procedures on mine closures.

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