Bien Thuong improves the environment of stone mining and processing areas

Stone carving at Mai stone carving village, Bien Thuong commune.

FLC Stone Investment and Minerals Joint Stock Company is a company licensed to exploit stone quarries in Bien Thuong commune for a period of 30 years. Every year, the company supplies the market with 35 - 40,000m3 of stone for construction, traffic and civil works. Mr. Mai Van Son, director in charge of production, said: "The characteristics of the stone mining and processing industry have a great impact on the environment due to dust and noise during the production process. To overcome this situation, in addition to investing in purchasing disc milling machines and layer cutting machines to replace blasting as before, the unit also installed a misting system and built a wastewater treatment system during the stone processing process. In general, dust and noise during the stone mining and processing process of the unit up to this point have been significantly improved."

Ms. Trinh Thi Nhuong, a resident living near the Mai village stone mining and processing area, said: "Because my house is close to the craft village, in addition to having to endure the noise and dust from the stone mining and processing facilities, every time a car transporting stone passes by, dust flies into the house, and the tables and chairs that are wiped in the morning are covered in dust by noon. Therefore, in many meetings and meetings with voters from the commune to the village, environmental issues are always a hot issue that is discussed, dissected and proposed to have solutions to completely resolve the environmental pollution situation. However, recently, thanks to the drastic intervention of the government, the authorities regularly inspect, urge and remind stone mining and processing enterprises to ensure environmental hygiene, so environmental pollution has had many positive changes.

To minimize environmental pollution from stone mining and processing activities, in addition to maintaining a self-management team for environmental protection in Mai village stone carving craft village, Bien Thuong commune has assigned the Economic Department to take responsibility for the environmental field in stone mining and processing activities. Mr. Pham Van Tho, Deputy Head of the Economic Department, said: "Immediately after stabilizing the organizational structure, the department advised the commune leaders to promote propaganda, dissemination, and raise awareness among people and businesses about the responsibility of environmental protection. At the same time, instructing households producing and trading in fine art stone to properly classify and treat domestic solid waste, solid waste generated from production activities, and wastewater in accordance with regulations. On the other hand, regularly inspect, urge, remind, and supervise the compliance with environmental protection laws of establishments in stone mining and processing activities in the area".

According to Mr. Tho, in fact, through surprise inspections, the majority of businesses and households participating in stone mining and processing activities have complied with environmental regulations such as investing in wire cutting machines instead of blasting, thereby limiting noise and dust. At the same time, water spraying systems have been installed and settling pits have been built to collect and treat stone powder wastewater. In addition, dust-proof tarps have been used and water has been sprayed twice a day on the roads leading to the craft village, thereby limiting the amount of dust each time a truck passes through... However, there are still some businesses and households that discharge wastewater and stone powder in the process of mining and processing stones in the wrong places, without covering them with dust-proof tarps, or if they do cover them, they do not ensure that dust is released into the environment.

To rectify this situation, Mr. Tho said that in addition to continuing to promote propaganda and mobilize businesses operating in stone mining and processing to strictly comply with environmental protection regulations, the locality will increase inspections to promptly detect and handle cases of intentional violations. In addition, the unit will be urged to speed up the construction progress of the 30-hectare craft village industrial cluster, ensuring that it will be completed and put into use by the fourth quarter of 2025. It is expected that the commune will attract more than 200 households working in stone processing in the area to operate in the craft village, at which time dust and noise from stone processing activities along Highway 217 will be completely resolved.

Article and photos: Minh Ly

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/bien-thuong-cai-thien-moi-truong-nbsp-khu-vuc-khai-thac-che-bien-da-259794.htm