According to the Viet Nam News, the People’s Committee of HCM City has asked the Prime Minister to instruct the Ministry of Transport to revoke licences that allow the Hiep Phuoc Maritime and Investment Joint-Stock Company to dredge river beds and upgrade the Dong Nai Waterway extending from Ong Nhieu Canal to Dong Nai Bridge.
Instead of dredging river beds and upgrading the waterway, Hiep Phuoc Company exploited sand in the area, which is a violation of state laws on mineral preservation.
The company’s sand exploitation worsened the erosion of land near the Dong Nai and Tac river areas in HCM City’s District 9.
The city has declared that the amount of sand the company exploited in the Dong Nai River was illegal under existing regulations.
Defending its decision, the city cited a resolution approved by the Prime Minister in 2004 that bans sand exploitation in the Dong Nai River.
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Dredging Today Staff, May 22, 2012;