HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City plansto call for investment in new materials that could replace sand used in someconstruction projects in response to an increase in illegal sand miningactivities, according to Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the HCM CityPeople’s Committee.

Speaking at a meeting on illegal sand mining on April23 in HCM City, Tuyen said the city’s administration would work with theMinistry of Construction and organise conferences to call for investment in newmaterials to replace sand.

Phan Anh Minh, Deputy Director of the HCM CityPolice Department, said that most important national construction works in thecity, including roads and public transport projects, use sand taken fromillegal mining activities. 

A project to combat illegal sand mining in CanGio waterways and the area between the city and surrounding provinces willbegin next month and end in 2022. Under the project, the Department ofTransport should also be responsible for the inspection and handling of theissue, Tuyen noted.

Nguyen Toan Thang, Director of the municipal Departmentof Natural Resources and Environment, said the project would cover majorrivers, including Dong Nai, Sai Gon, Dong Tranh, Soai Rap and Long Tau rivers,and the Can Gio sea area. 

The city’s agencies and neighbouring provinceswill work together to resolve the issue, and estimate the amount of sandreserves for construction in the city, as well as propose a long-term plan forsand mining. 

The city will also consider other proposals andadditional sanctions for illegal sand mining, sand trading and transportationof sand of unclear origin.

In addition, the city government andneighbouring provinces will review regulations on administrative sanctionsrelated to minerals and waterway transport.

Tuyen said it was important to apply hi-tech tomanagement and supervision of illegal mining activities, and that agenciesshould meet every six months to discuss solutions. 

Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of the HCM CityParty Committee, said the city should establish an interdisciplinary teamto improve inspection and handling of illegal sand mining and review theproject’s results every year.

Nguyen Van Tiep, Deputy Director of Tien Giang province’sDepartment of Natural Resources and Environment, said there were no licensedsand mines in the province, but demand for sand for construction washuge. 

“Vessels watch with great caution for inspectingagencies when they sand illegally,” Tiep said. 

Tiep also recommended amending a regulationwhich would stipulate that vehicles transporting 10 cubic metres of illegalsand, rather than the current 50 cubic metres, must be confiscated.

Since early this year, nearly 660 violationshave been reported with total fines of more than 12 billion VND (516,000 USD)and 4,680 cubic metres of sand seized. Two of the cases were handled throughlegal proceedings.-VNA