The forestry company is illegally exploiting the land.

In Thua Thien - Hue, the Forestry Company 1-5 has arbitrarily exploited and sold land to numerous projects despite not having completed the land use conversion and lease procedures.

On August 29th, the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Thua Thien Hue province and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Phong Dien district recorded an illegal land exploitation report against the 1-5 Forestry Joint Stock Company in Phuong Hop village, Phong An commune, Phong Dien district.

The acacia forest was illegally exploited by Forestry Company 1-5. Photo: Vo Thanh

Inspectors determined that the company had illegally excavated land without changing the land use purpose or leasing the land from the state. A company representative stated that approximately 150 cubic meters of soil were transported out by trucks that morning.

However, observations at the scene revealed that the acacia forest, spanning over 8 hectares, had been completely devastated by excavators digging up the land for soil extraction. Dozens of trucks carrying soil were constantly moving from the quarry towards National Highway 1A to supply the construction project.

According to residents of Phuong Hop village, illegal land exploitation has been going on for a long time but has not been detected or stopped by the authorities.

Present at the scene, Mr. Than Manh Tuan, Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Phong Dien district, stated that the unauthorized land exploitation in this area by Forestry Company 1-5 constitutes "land encroachment" and illegal mineral exploitation. Previously, the department had sent a document requesting the company to complete land lease procedures before exploitation, but the company "ignored the regulations".

Inspectors from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment issue a report against Forestry Joint Stock Company 1-5. Photo: Vo Thanh

In 2014, the 1-5 Forestry Joint Stock Company was granted a license by the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province to exploit soil minerals for leveling purposes in Hop Ward, Phong An commune, Phong Dien district, and this license was renewed under Exploitation License No. 18/GP-UBND dated March 7, 2019.

However, in 2020, the company was fined 120 million VND by Thua Thien Hue province for illegally occupying agricultural land, specifically forest land designated for production, for its land excavation activities to produce leveling materials in the area.

Authorities also required the company to rectify the situation with an amount exceeding 422 million VND and to complete the land lease procedures as prescribed.

Illegal soil mining operation by Forestry Company 1-5. Photo: Vo Thanh

In November 2022, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province allowed Forestry Joint Stock Company 1-5 to exploit soil for leveling purposes using the open-pit method in Hop Ward to serve the Cam Lo - La Son expressway project and several urban transport projects funded by the state budget in the province.

In the mining license, the province requires the company, before commencing mining, to submit to the competent state agency the mine design, establish land lease procedures, and report to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment for on-site inspection, coordinate determination, and demarcation of the mining area boundaries.

However, according to the inspection agency, the 1-5 Forestry Joint Stock Company has not yet completed the procedures for land use conversion and land lease since then.

Vo Thanh

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