Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, on August 20 chaired a meeting with relevant departments, agencies and local authorities to review mineral exploitation in communes along the Da River.

The meeting brought together leaders of the provincial Department of Public Security and relevant departments, as well as representatives of Muong La and Muong Bu communes. It was also connected online with Chieng Hoa, Pac Nga, Chieng Sung, Ta Khoa and Bac Yen communes.

Although the province has strengthened inspections and taken action against violations, illegal mineral exploitation remains a concern in some areas.

A recent field inspection by the provincial Departments of Agriculture and Environment, Construction, and Public Security, and the People’s Committees of Muong La and Muong Bu communes found a business illegally extracting sand at a site 512.43 metres outside its licensed area.

The inspection team recorded the violation and handed over the machinery, equipment and vehicles used for the illegal extraction, and two stockpiles of finished sand to the People’s Committees of Muong La and Muong Bu for further handling.

Since July 1, 2025, Muong La commune has conducted inspections and issued 16 administrative penalty decisions against households for land destruction. It has also detected and handled four cases of illegal mineral exploitation. Muong Bu commune has detected three cases of land destruction and issued administrative penalties against the individuals involved.

Concluding the meeting, Chairman Viet called for violations to be handled objectively, strictly and in accordance with the law, while the responsibilities of relevant organisations and individuals must be clearly established.

He particularly stressed the need to clarify the responsibilities of local authorities in mineral resource management and of organisations licensed to exploit minerals.

The province will strengthen the protection of untapped mineral resources, especially in areas bordering neighbouring localities, riverbeds and other locations at high risk of illegal exploitation.

The provincial chairman instructed relevant departments, agencies and local authorities to review licensing dossiers, inspect and verify illegal sand-mining cases, and take appropriate action against the exploitation outside the licensed area.

They were also asked to review mineral exploitation plans and licences to ensure an adequate supply of construction materials, while assessing the management and protection of untapped mineral resources along the Da River and proposing measures to strengthen State management and prevent violations./.