Dozens of ‘death pits’ in one commune: Let the mineral company dig big tunnels and drain water

Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung – Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People’s Committee, inspects the scene of a sinkhole at a family in Chau Hong commune, Quy Hop district on the morning of May 29 – Photo: HUY NHAM

On the morning of May 29, Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung – Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People’s Committee, went to Chau Hong commune, Quy Hop district to check the phenomenon of subsidence, cracking of soil, constructions, houses, dry wells after information the press and the people reflect.

Previously, from April 21, Nghe An Provincial People’s Committee sent a document to departments and localities about the subsidence and cracking of soil, constructions, houses, and dry wells affecting production and production. daily life of people in Chau Hong commune.

In which, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is assigned to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Department of Construction to examine and advise the Provincial People’s Committee on measures to handle before April 28.

However, as of May 27, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has not reported a definitive solution, because it has not strictly followed the direction of the Provincial People’s Committee.

Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Trung criticized the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for being slow to advise and report to the Provincial People’s Committee the handling plan. Request to review and clarify the responsibilities of related parties, advise and report to the Provincial People’s Committee before June 10

Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the People’s Committee of Quy Hop District and relevant units in actual inspection of the scene, and advise the Provincial People’s Committee on a plan to deal with subsidence and cracking of soil, buildings and houses. At home, water wells dried up in Quy Hop district before May 31.

For the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, it is required to check the observance of environmental protection by mining enterprises in Quy Hop district.

Mr. Trung also asked the People’s Committee of Quy Hop district to direct organizations and individuals to immediately suspend the exploitation and use of groundwater of related projects in Chau Hong commune. Strengthen inspection, monitoring and take measures to ensure absolute safety of people’s lives and properties in the affected area.

Pictures of tin ore mining tunnels in Chau Hong commune, Quy Hop district, Nghe An when people come in to check – Photo: N. TRONG

Regarding the information and pictures on social networks about the ore mining tunnel “the tunnel is deep and wide enough for trucks to run in, it’s always stunning”, a leader of Quy Hop District People’s Committee confirmed that this is a mining tunnel. ore of a company in Chau Hong commune when people came to “surveil” after prolonged pressing.

“This is a unit that has been licensed to exploit minerals, but currently, the delegations are working to check whether this enterprise is doing exactly as designed, the environmental impact assessment report has been approved or not.” , the leader of Quy Hop district said.

To exploit tin ore, enterprises dig a system of tunnels leading deep under the mountain with a network of interlaced tunnels. After that, the mine owner had to drill a deep water well, use a large-capacity pump to suck water up and then discharge it to the outside to ensure that the inside was always dry and not flooded by underground water sources.

A sinkhole in a house in Chau Hong commune, Quy Hop district, Nghe An. According to a report from Chau Hong Commune People’s Committee, up to now, there have been 299 wells with dry bottom, 191 houses cracked and dozens of “death pits” in people’s houses and fields – Photo: D. HOA

Previously, Quy Hop district requested to stop pumping underground water, but Thung Lon ore mine (of Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company) still did not comply and still pumped groundwater to exploit tin ore.

In an official dispatch to the People’s Committee of Quy Hop district, Tan Hoang Khang Company proposed to create conditions for the company to continue manufacturing according to the approved design, including a solution for underground water extraction.

This enterprise thinks that if stopping water absorption forces the company to stop production and the entire underground system, equipment, machinery and power lines will be flooded causing great damage; 250 officers and employees of the company will have to quit.