Major mining violations found in Lao Cai

The Government Inspectorate has revealed mining management violations in Lao Cai Province that have caused losses of VND95.20 billion (US$4.15 million) to the State budget.

  • Thanh Hoa to take drastic measures to curb illegal sand-mining
  • Binh Thuan cracks down on illegal sand mining
Mining activities in Lao Cai
Mining activities in Lao Cai

Deputy Inspector-General Nguyen Van Thanh has announced the results of the inspections over law enforcement in mineral exploitation, management and procession in Lao Cai from 2005 to 2015.

According to the inspectors, Lao Cai People's Committee didn't issue environmental protection regulations on time and several regulations about resource taxes weren't accurate. The provincial chairman, directors of the Department of Finance and the Department of Taxation during 2008-2012 period must take responsibility.

Suspicious activities in mine planning have been detected. 13 projects were listed with a total area were 197 hectares larger than what had been planned, encroaching upon agricultural and forest land. 11 other projects weren't included in the planning covered 65.40 hectares and violated the Law on Construction.

Another 31 projects didn't have any listed size or boundary. Many mining projects were allowed to operate for eight years while the time limit is three years.

According to the plan, the Minh Luong gold mining project was supposed to cover 21.18 hectares but the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment agreed to give a 112-hectares to the investor.

Lao Cai Department of Construction gave 3.77 hectares which were not in the plan to hotel projects. The provincial authorities violated the Law on Minerals when allowing investors of hotel projects to collect apatite.

The inspectors concluded that reports on investor experience and financial capacity weren't accurate, leading to stagnant and ineffective projects. Several investors illegally transferred their mining rights.

Vietnam Apatite Company has been in operation for years yet the authorities still haven't put up boundary markers as regulated. Its licence has also expired.

Lao Cai People's Committee also didn't issue required regulations on how to calculate environment tax from 2008 to 2011. 

"After inspecting six investors, many violations have been detected which caused over VND95.20 billion in losses to the state," the inspectorate wrote in the report.

The inspectorate proposed measures to recover the money and determine the individual responsibilities of the leaders of the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment during the 2009-2012 period.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh asked the provincial authorities, Government Inspectorate and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to collaborate to review the licenses granted to Minh Luong mining project.

Dtinews

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.