There is a continuous appearance of a sinkhole in Nghe An: Why do departments and industries handle it half-heartedly?

While the people and authorities of Chau Hong (Quy Hop, Nghe An) are worried, the departments in this province are still indifferent and inconsistent.

People are confused

From the beginning of 2020 until now, Chau Hong commune, Quy Hop district, Nghe An province has continuously appeared “death” pits, making people confused.

A sinkhole more than 15m deep appeared in Ban Cong hamlet, Chau Hong commune

According to PV’s research, the situation of land subsidence along the banks of streams appeared from January 2020.

Gradually, this place appeared many sinkholes with a small area. Along with that, wells, ponds in the area began to lose surface water, gradually drying up. Many houses also suffered from subsidence, cracks and damage.

According to the review of the People’s Committee of Chau Hong Commune, from the end of 2019 to April 2022, in the commune, there were 279 domestic water wells that ran dry; 13 sinkholes in wet rice fields, along streams.

Especially, from the end of February 2022, there were 114 houses cracked, cracked… Estimated damage is up to 57 billion VND.

This situation became especially serious in the villages of Cong, Poong, Na Hieng, and Na Noong in the days of May 2022.

Specifically, at about 3pm on May 16, while working in the fields of Na Tong, Ban Cong hamlet, some villagers were startled when they heard a loud noise, then discovered a hole more than 15 meters deep, mouth open. The hole is about 3m wide.

Many wells of people in Chau Hong commune have lost water

At 5 a.m. on May 27, Diem Viet Tu’s family (in Na Hieng village) panicked when a “death” hole about 4m wide and about 6-8m deep appeared on the floor.

Frustrated with the situation of the “death pit” seriously affecting life, during the day many people pulled into the tin mining tunnel of Tan Hoang Khang Company.

Mr. Vi Van Thang (75 years old, from Cong village) once told Traffic Newspaper: There is an underground sand cave under the village’s stream, currently a company is mining tin near that cave. We suspect that because the company sucks up all the groundwater below to exploit, creating pressure between the two sides (above ground and underground) is different, so this situation occurs.

It is known that, from 2000 up to now, in Chau Hong commune, there are 11 mining enterprises (including 5 ore mining enterprises, 7 stone mining enterprises) licensed by the state to companies and enterprises to currently mining minerals.

In which, there are enterprises exploiting ore underground in the form of underground mines. Currently, this area only has Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company operating in mining using underground water.

In the area, Tan Hoang Khang Company exploits underground water

Department of indifference, industry inconsistency

According to PV’s research, after discovering subsidence and “death” pits, the Commune People’s Committee had nearly 30 reports of abnormal signs sent to their superiors; It is recommended to find out the cause and fix it as soon as possible.

The People’s Committee of Quy Hop district has also repeatedly sent working groups to inspect the actual scene. However, to find out the cause, the district proposed the People’s Committee of Nghe An province to hire a geological team to drill for exploration.

On April 29, Nghe An Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued Document No. 2407 to Quy Hop District People’s Committee asking the district to “issue a notice requesting organizations and individuals to immediately stop the extraction and extraction of groundwater in the area. Cong village, Na Hieng village, Poong village and surrounding areas and take strict measures for cases of non-implementation”.

On May 11, the People’s Committee of Quy Hop district announced the suspension of pumping and underground water exploitation for a number of businesses operating in Chau Hong commune.

The period of suspension of pumping, suction, and exploitation of groundwater is from the date of announcement until there is a new notice.

At the same time, the North Central Coast Geological Team had drilled for geological exploration to find the cause of the phenomenon.

However, after that, Tan Hoang Khang Joint Stock Company proposed to allow groundwater exploitation again. The reason is that if groundwater is not exploited, it will flood the pit, affecting and causing great damage to the company’s production activities.

The strange thing is, Nghe An Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment did not give a definitive answer for yes or no, but only half-answered: “While waiting for the agency to conclude on the cause of subsidence, enterprises are engaged in mining activities. normal production, production and business according to regulations”.

A sinkhole right under the floor of Chau Hong’s house

With this saying of the governing body, Tan Hoang Khang Company continues to exploit groundwater.

Until May 27, when a death pit continued to appear on the floor of people’s houses, the People’s Committee of Quy Hop district continued to issue an urgent document requesting Tan Hoang Khang Company to immediately stop exploiting groundwater.

Regarding this situation, according to PV’s research, the People’s Committee of Nghe An province has just criticized the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of this province.

Accordingly, on April 21, 2022, the Provincial People’s Committee issued Document No. 147 on the subsidence and cracking of land, buildings, houses, and dry wells affecting production and people’s daily life. in Chau Hong commune, Quy Hop district, assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to preside over and coordinate with the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Construction to inspect and advise the Provincial People’s Committee on measures to handle before April 28. 2022.

However, up to now, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has not reported a definitive solution, has not strictly followed the direction of the Provincial People’s Committee.

The Chairman of Nghe An province 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 review to clarify responsibilities of related parties, report to Provincial People’s Committee before June 10, 2022.

Public opinion is questioning, while the people and local authorities are confused and worried, why are the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development – the 2 units directly advising the Provincial People’s Committee on these issues? such inconsistent instructions?

Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Trung inspects the scene of the sinkholes and directs the heat (HN Photo)