What are local authorities doing?
Despite the Vietnamese media’s continuous reports of illegal sand dredging activity and its impacts to rivers and people, the situation has not improved. All local governments claim they have tried but they cannot stop illegal sand miners. They lack equipment and personel for this task, they say, and the profit from dredging and selling sand is high. In some localities, it is reported that illegal sand miners threaten any inspectors who turn up, and attack local people who protest their activities. In some locations, local authorities are willing to “compromise” with sand miners by collecting small fees from them. These officials explain that the local market needs construction materials so it is necessary to allow sand dredging. In the Vietnamese press, there’s a consensus that the situation is getting worse; it is a nationwide problem fueled by the possiblity of big profits, and the central government’s intervention is a must to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment.
