VietNamNet Bridge - The Dong Nai provincial authorities have taken action to fight against illegal sand exploitation on rivers and canals. But the situation has not improved.

 

The Dong Nai River

The police in Dinh Quan district of Dong Nai province have discovered a group of illegal sand exploiters and seized their exploitation instruments. However, this did not deter the exploiters. 

Exploiters work day and night, but local authorities are not aware of the activity. 

On August 17, 2015, when inspecting the sands located along the La Nga River, the provincial police discovered tens of people, trucks and freighters exploiting and carrying sand illegally. They discovered hundreds of cubic meters of sand, four trucks and three freighters on the site.

The police discovered two trucks carrying 10 cubic meters of sand departing from the sand ground owned by Vu Van Uy in Gia Canh Commune. 

The vehicles were on the way to the building material shops in the district. It was estimated that 50 cubic meters of sand is gathered there every day.

The Dong Nai provincial authorities have taken action to fight against illegal sand exploitation on rivers and canals. But the situation has not improved.

On the same day, the police also inspected the two sand grounds owned by Nguyen Duy Trinh and Vu Van Quang. Trinh admitted that he had been exploiting sand illegally since November 2013.

On January 6-7, when reporters returned to Gia Canh Commune, considered the ‘headquarters' of the illegal sand exploitation in Dinh Quan district, they discovered a convoy of 5-10 ton-trucks carrying sand heading towards Highway No 20.

When they went further to the area, they discovered at least five sand grounds. On some grounds, sand had dried and was waiting for trucks to carry away. On the other grounds, the sand was still wet as it had just been exploited from the river.

On the river edge, a sucker was seen working and producing terrible noise. Some men were standing on the river bank with shovels on hands. Their duty was scooping up the sand and putting it on empty ground. After the sand dried, they loaded the sand into trucks.

Local authorities powerless

A local man noted that the illegal exploitation became even more boisterous after the case. The trucks laden with illegally exploited sand still pass the front door to the Gia Canh Commune People’s Committee every day. However, the local authorities still repeatedly deny that the illegal sand exploitation is taking place. 

He said in daytime only 5-10 ton trucks run on the roads, while 15-ton trucks work at night. 

“The illegal sand exploitation has been affecting our lives. Meanwhile, the roads are seriously damaged because of the sand laden trucks,” he complained.

Meanwhile, M, another local man, said he doubts the illegal sand exploiters can receive  ‘support’ from local authority officials.


NLD