Enterprises in Quảng Bình have felled hectares of protective forest to exploit titanium in Lệ Thủy District. — Photo vov.vn

QUẢNG BÌNH — Residents in Lệ Thủy District, central Quảng Bình Province, have become concerned about environment pollution caused by titanium exploitation.

Nguyễn Hữu Khuynh, a resident from Ngư Thủy Chung Commune, said extraction activities of the metal was causing noise all day and night and hectares of protection forests around the mining area had been cut down and burned.

“Local residents plant trees to protect the environment. We have repeatedly objected to the mining and burning forests but they ignore us,” he told Voice of Việt Nam (VOV).

Ngô Thị Phước, a local resident, said they went to the mine many times, blocked the road into the mine and cut power to protest the mining.

Chairman of Ngư Thủy Chung Commune People's Committee, Nguyễn Quang Thao, said titanium mining has polluted the groundwater sources in the area, forcing local households to buy water from elsewhere to use for daily purposes.

According to Thao, the mining is too close to the residential area and protection forests.

Previously, people objected to the assessment of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment that the mining does not affect groundwater.

Phan Xuân Hào, director of sub-department of Environmental Protection, said they will send an inspection team to inspect the titanium extraction in the locality to assess impacts and devise solutions to minimise adverse impacts to the environment. — VNS