Unveiling the Culprit Behind the Defacement of Gia Lai’s Iconic Mountain

On September 26, the People’s Committee of Bien Ho Commune (Gia Lai) announced that its Economic Department had submitted a report on the handling of an unauthorized land reclamation and road construction case in the Chư Nâm mountain area, Ia Gri village. This incident was previously reported by Tien Phong newspaper.

Accordingly, the Economic Department collaborated with the Management Board of Northern Bien Ho Protective Forest, the Forest Protection Department of Chư Păh, the village chief of Ia Gri, and relevant parties to inspect and verify the site of the incident at the foot of Chư Nâm mountain.

Upon measurement, the inspection team determined that the area where residents had unauthorizedly reclaimed land and altered the terrain to build a road in the Chư Nâm mountain region totaled over 4,250 square meters. Of this, 2,584 square meters were within the land certificate issued by Chư Păh District to Mr. Lê Văn Quý. Additionally, 1,195 square meters fell under the jurisdiction of the Northern Bien Ho Protective Forest Management Board in compartment 5, sub-compartment 249. The remaining 470 square meters had an unidentified landowner.

The reclaimed area featured a road surface 4 meters wide, with heights ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 meters above the original ground level. Some sections were excavated up to 3 meters deep.

The inspection team identified the individuals responsible for the excavation and land reclamation as Mr. Cao Huyền Tuấn Anh (born 1983, Pleiku Ward, Gia Lai) and Mr. Lê Văn Quý (born 1974, Diên Hồng Ward, Gia Lai).

Both Mr. Anh and Mr. Quý stated that they hired an excavator from Mr. Mười (whose full name, identity, and background are unknown) to reclaim land purchased from local residents. Their intention was to create a pathway for agricultural vehicles to transport seedlings and fertilizers, supported by five land certificates issued by the former Chư Păh District authorities.

According to the Bien Ho Economic Department, Mr. Anh’s actions altered the terrain, changed the slope of agricultural land, and posed a risk of landslides, potentially affecting the agricultural production of downstream households.

Based on regulations regarding administrative penalties for land violations, Mr. Anh unauthorizedly altered the slope and lowered the ground surface over an area exceeding 4,250 square meters in the Chư Nâm mountain region. Consequently, the Economic Department has mandated that he restore the land to its original state before the violation occurred.

Given these findings, the Bien Ho Economic Department has reported the case to the Gia Lai Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Gia Lai Land Management Department, and the Standing Committee of the Bien Ho Commune Party Committee. They have requested further review and directed decisive action to resolve the case in accordance with the law, ensuring proper land and forestry management and maintaining order in the area.