A leader of the northeastern Quảng Ninh Province has ordered a stop to coal transportation on major highways in the province by the end of 2016, in an attempt to curb illegal coal exploitation and transportation. — Photo bnews.vn

QUẢNG NINH — A leader of the northeastern Quảng Ninh Province has ordered a stop to coal transportation on major highways in the province by the end of 2016, in an attempt to curb illegal coal exploitation and transportation.

Quảng Ninh Party Committee’s Secretary Nguyễn Văn Đọc told a meeting on the issue on Monday afternoon that from August coal transportation on National Highway 18, National Highway 10 and Provincial Road 388 must only be carried out during the day-time on the 1^st and 15^th of each month.

Coal transportation on these roads would be totally prohibited from 2017 as specialised roads and waterways would be used for this purpose instead, Đọc said.

He said authorised coal companies must also publicise information about transportation schedules and vehicle plate numbers on the media so that related authorities and people can supervise.

He also asked related agencies to increase inspection on the province’s ports in order to eliminate those who serve unauthorised coal miners.

The new measures were unveiled to respond to reports by the media and local people about a recent increase of illegal transportation of coal from unauthorised coal mines on Highway 18 due to lax management from the authority, which has caused environmental pollution and affected the life of local residents.

Illegal coal exploitation and transportation has been a perennial problem in Quảng Ninh province, home to the country’s biggest coal reserves.

In November 2011, the provincial authority asked Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group to stop transporting coal on normal highways but failed to stop the problem.

Sand exploitation

Also on Monday, Đọc and the provincial Party committee’s Board of Internal Affairs conducted an unscheduled inspection on Tuần Châu island, Hạ Long City, following reports about illegal sand exploitation.

Fifty boats were found illegally sucking up sand at the time of the inspection. Most of the boats were degraded and did not have a registration number.

Đọc ordered an immediate and indefinite halt to sand exploitation and dredging operations in Tuần Châu island.

He also asked to recheck all the already-authorised sand exploiting projects in the island district of Vân Đồn, which had been carried out on a large scale.

He said if the project operators did not meet the demands in terms of experience, financial capability and transportation means, their permission must be revoked, as the sand reserve there was closely linked with the aquaculture of local residents and natural landscapes in the region. —  VNS