Illegal ports openly operate in Phu Tho

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Bustling loading and unloading of goods at the underground wharf

In mid-June 2023, VietNamNet reporters received complaints from residents of Ben Got ward (Viet Tri city) about illegal ports openly loading and transporting goods along the Lo river. This took place openly day and night despite requests from the authorities of Phu Tho province and Viet Tri city to stop the operation.

From June 26-27, VietNamNet reporters recorded that in the floating area along the Lo River, dozens of large trucks lined up to load and transport goods without being inspected or supervised by any authorities.

At the river's edge, a large cargo ship docked. On the riverbank, excavators were mobilized to load the cargo from the ship onto large trucks waiting. This activity continued continuously during the day.

*Unloading of goods at the floating dock along Lo River on the morning of June 27. Photo: DB*

According to collected documents, the above land is under the management of Ben Got Ward People's Committee. The port was previously operated and exploited by Hoanh Dung Trading and Transport Joint Stock Company (Hoanh Dung Company).

Since 2020, the People's Committee of Ben Got Ward has terminated the land lease contract with Hoanh Dung Company. The People's Committee of Phu Tho Province and the People's Committee of Viet Tri City have issued documents requesting the termination of the wharf operations here.

However, the situation of loading and unloading goods at the floating area along the Lo River is still complicated. Some units deliberately encroach and operate the water port.

At 8:00 a.m. on June 27, when directly recording the loading and unloading of goods at the floating area along the Lo River (on the old land rented by Hoanh Dung Company), VietNamNet reporter contacted Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung - Vice Chairman of Ben Got Ward People's Committee to be present and coordinate to grasp the current situation.

At around 8:30 a.m., the Vice Chairman of Ben Got Ward People's Committee and land officials were present at the floating site to verify the status of the illegal port operation.

*Vice Chairman of Ben Got Ward Nguyen Quang Trung points to the location of the illegal port. Photo: DB*

*Cargo loading and unloading activities take place openly. Photo: DB*

According to Mr. Trung, the loading and unloading of goods at the floating area along the Lo River is illegal. At the same time, the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ben Got Ward requested the cadastral officers to record images to make a record of the incident.

“In 2023, we conducted inspections in this area but did not detect any violations. Before that, the ward People's Committee coordinated with the city to advise the provincial People's Committee to issue decisions on administrative sanctions against illegal water port operations,” said Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung.

On June 27, the reporter provided the above images to the leaders of the People's Committee of Viet Tri City. Responding to the reporter of VietNamNet, Mr. Pham Xuan Hiep, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Viet Tri City, affirmed the city's viewpoint and direction to end the illegal water wharf operation at the floating beach along the Lo River in Ben Got Ward.

According to Mr. Hiep, recently the city government has not seen any reports on the situation reported by PV, and at the same time, he said that in 2021, the City People's Committee submitted a document to the Provincial People's Committee to issue a decision to impose administrative sanctions on organizations and individuals operating illegally in Ben Got ward.

Specifically, in September 2021, the People's Committee of Phu Tho province issued a decision to administratively sanction two enterprises and one individual for violating the dike corridor, forcing them to return to their original state and not allowing them to gather and load goods on the floating beach along the Lo River.

Chairman of Phu Tho requested review

Regarding land and dike violations that occurred in the floating area of Ben Got ward, in 2019, Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee Bui Van Quang issued a document requesting units to review and clarify responsibilities.

Specifically, regarding the management of wharves and yards at the floating yard in Ben Got ward, the head of the People's Committee of Phu Tho province requested the People's Committee of Viet Tri city to review and clarify the responsibility of State management in the area due to violations in land use management, environment, and dikes.

*A long line of trucks gathered at the floating area of Ben Got ward on the afternoon of June 26. Photo: DB*

*Weighing station operating along Lo River. Photo: DB*

*During the process of recording the cargo transportation activities at the floating yard, the reporter did not see any inspection or supervision by the authorities. Photo: DB*

Notably, the Chairman of Phu Tho province requested Viet Tri City to carry out procedures to reclaim land areas that units illegally used, dismantle constructions on the land, and hand over the site to the People's Committee of Ben Got ward according to regulations.

Phu Tho province assigned the Department of Transport to request the termination of inland waterway port operations. At the same time, the Provincial People's Committee "will not consider extending land lease" for the land area used as a yard in the floating yard area.

Four years after the direction of Phu Tho provincial leaders, on June 27, Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung, Vice Chairman of Ben Got ward confirmed: Some constructions have not been completely dismantled and repaired. Regarding land management, Mr. Trung said that the above land has completed procedures and is under the management of the ward People's Committee.

*Trucks carrying goods out of Ben Got ward's floating yard on the afternoon of June 26. Photo: DB*

In 2019, the Phu Tho Provincial Inspectorate also issued a conclusion on the inspection of compliance with regulations on investment, construction, and environment for 4 enterprises operating and exploiting at the floating site.

The conclusion stated: Most of the floating area of the enterprises operating are violating the law on land. The operation process has not complied with the regulations on environmental protection and dike protection, the investment and construction is spontaneous.

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