Invasion of Ha Long Bay

'The environment of Ha Long Bay is threatened, coal mining, sea encroachment and aquaculture activities are being carried out with increasing trend . "

Mr. Ngo Hung, head of Ha Long Bay Management Board, expressed his insistence to Techmart " If this is not stopped in time, the environment of Ha Long Bay World Heritage will be seriously destroyed ."

So far, Quang Ninh people often think of the famous tourist destination of Ha Long Bay, but few people know that beside it is a coal mine that operates day and night. The main roads in the city such as Cao Xanh, Ha Lam . must regularly water all year round because of dust.

'Smoky industry' goes hand in hand with 'smokeless industry'

The project "impartial" encroachment of the Royal International Joint Stock Company

According to Mr. Ngo Hung, the environmental pollution in Ha Long city has always been concerned by the people and the authorities but when it comes to solving problems, it is only . stalling because coal companies are increasing. mining capacity. Currently, most of mine and waste soil waste is acidic, high turbidity is poured directly into the bay without any treatment process.

In Ha Tu coal mines, Cau Trang and Cao Son coal ports . the dumping still occurs. At coal ports, coal transport and loading in 'absolute protection' is still available. Many large tonnage ships that receive coal without entering the port have to use transshipment measures, so the amount of coal that falls on Ha Long Bay is quite large.

The report on the status of the environment in Ha Long Bay in 2004 stated that in the coastal areas of Ha Long Bay, there were manifestations of local pollution due to the increase of suspended solids (TSS), reduced dissolved oxygen (DO ); Nitrites and bacteria that cause ColiForm in areas such as Lan Be, Vung Dang and coal port along the southern bridge of Cau Trang . have caused turbidity approximately or exceeding the permitted standards.

'Water in Ha Long Bay is no longer green' - Mr. Nguyen The Hung, a house in Hai Truong Street, Hong Hai Ward, said so. He said that a few years ago, he went to bathe in the bay but since last summer he has not dared to set foot in the bay for fear . dirty.

Threats .

Pouring land encroachment on Ha Long Bay

According to statistics of Ha Long Bay Management Board, Ha Long - Cam Pha area currently has 21 sea encroachment projects and 17 waste sludge projects. These projects, if done in accordance with the procedures and regulations, will help Ha Long city solve urban planning well.

Besides, sea encroachment projects are aimed at urbanizing and building tourist and entertainment spots . contributing to attracting tourists when they come to Ha Long Bay. But these projects are currently a serious direct threat to the heritage region.

As a rule, the sea encroachment projects must strictly comply with the regulations such as embankment, anti-sedimentation before discharging; there must be an environmental impact assessment report, construction engineering plan; implementing environmental monitoring; Dredging mud when completing the project. The project must strictly comply with the approved design dossier, comply with the process of leveling, sucking and transporting soil, rock and mud at the prescribed places.

Most recently, Hoang Gia International Joint Stock Company made a park project that was "impartial" to encroach on the sea while not yet approved by the provincial People's Committee. Until the authorities know . the job is done. The provincial People's Committee handled by assigning the Department of Finance and related industries to study . proposing the price of land use fee with the land area that the company had occupied (!).

Besides, the phenomenon of destruction and loss of mangroves occurs with alarming levels. According to statistics from 1998 - 2003, the area of ​​mangrove forests along Ha Long Bay has lost 866ha. In which, the area of ​​mangrove forest destroyed for aquaculture accounts for 732ha. According to the assessment of Quang Ninh Department of Science and Technology, the mangrove forests along Ha Long Bay are destroyed and the seafood production is reduced and the concentration of coastal pollution increases and pollutants are released to the bay.

Currently, Ha Long city has 5 open-cast mines, 3 underground mines and 5 ports. In Cam Pha town, there are 7 opencast mines, 14 mines and 10 ports. Besides, Ha Long and Cam Pha also have 4 active coal sorting plants.

Open-pit mining and mining processes dump soil and dump waste into mine sites. Four dumps along the coast of Ha Long Bay are always in overload condition such as the south of Deo Nai disposal site with a width of 230ha, Cua Ong coal dumping yard with a total area of ​​125ha . Total annual waste water discharged into the bay is 30 million m3.

And the consequences of ground leveling, unorganized sea encroachment have caused the loss of mangrove forest area, narrowed flow, high flow rate entwined with rock and soil, causing sediment deposition for Ha Long Bay.

This sedimentation is also related to projects of sludge and waste disposal. 17 projects pouring sludge into Ha Long Bay with a total volume of 4,742,155m3 (4,507,829m3 has been implemented). However, no management agency has been able to monitor this arbitrary disposal in Ha Long Bay. There are many projects that automatically discharge mud into the absolute protection area and buffer zone of Ha Long Bay heritage.

In 2004, there were 1,551,000 visitors coming to Ha Long. Due to the increase in the number of passengers, boat services also increased. Most ships do not have waste water collection and treatment equipment, all discharged directly to the bay. Many ships selling petroleum still travel freely to buy and sell on the bay without a problem. Waste and leakage of these mobile petrol plants are directly discharged into the heritage area.

Because tourists like to visit fishing villages on the bay, the households on the shore "move the capital" to the bay to trade raft houses or aquaculture. Currently there are 126 moorings that are moored incorrectly and all of these rafts do not have environmental sanitation licenses, discharging waste directly into the sea.

Besides, the cultivation of seafood by swamp, post, and fence is very popular. In Ha Long City, there are 1,140ha, Hoanh Bo District 686ha, Cam Pha Town has 500ha. This phenomenon has changed the coastal land structure, increased the risk of erosion, sedimentation, increased turbidity of water.

In July 2005, examining 21 sea encroachment projects, only:

- 5 projects of dredging

- 1 project periodically reports on environmental work

- 2 projects to implement environmental monitoring

- 11 projects do not have environmental impact assessment reports yet

- 16 projects with construction engineering design

- 12 projects do not implement embankment, sand fins against sedimentation

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