Excavators and trucks are being used for illegal land exploitation in Tho Loc village, Dong Loi commune (Trieu Son, Thanh Hoa). This activity takes place right under the overpass and adjacent to the North-South Expressway’s protection corridor, posing many dangers.
Excavation site adjacent to the North-South Expressway slope
On the afternoon of December 21, 2024, reporters recorded an excavator operating continuously, digging soil in the area of land cleared for the expressway construction. Large and small excavators and trucks lined up to transport the soil away.
Excavated areas are deeper than the original field surface before clearance
Digging Deep Under the Overpass, Adjacent to the Protection Corridor
This area has a lot of excess construction soil, but it has not been fully utilized by the contractor. The exploiters not only took this soil but also dug deeper than the old field surface. The digging and excavation are also being carried out right under the overpass on the expressway, encroaching on the abutments. Many soil extraction locations are also approaching the slope and the road corridor protection system.
Land exploitation activities taking place right under the overpass
Activities Take Place at Night, on Weekends
According to local residents, this illegal land exploitation started on December 14, 2024. The first day of exploitation lasted from morning to 11 PM, the second day from morning to 4 AM the next morning, then stopped. During the day, the exploiters operate in the field area and under the expressway overpass, but in the evening, they bring machines into the circle between the access road to the expressway to dig soil. This is a circular land area with a diameter of hundreds of meters, which is expected to be planted with flowers and ornamental plants.
A scarred landscape from land exploitation
In the late afternoon, the excavator continues to be put into operation
Soil Sold for Hundreds of Millions of Dong
Through investigation, the exploited soil is transported and sold to residential areas in Nua town, about 5 – 7 km away, for an agreed value of hundreds of millions of dong. Some small excavators and trucks are sold to local households to create ponds and elevate gardens.
Trucks carrying soil damage the surface of the Nhom river dyke road
Residents are upset because the dyke road is damaged
Illegal land exploitation using excavators and trucks near the North-South Expressway not only causes economic damage but also poses a risk of traffic accidents and landslides. Timely measures are needed to prevent this situation.
