Recently, Illegal sand excavation, rampant at Fuchi section of the Yangtze River, Hubei Province, has endangered the safety of the water-channels and embankments of the river.
Ever since the banning on illegal sand-extraction in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River was enforced in Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces, some sand-extractors started to go upstream to Hubei for excavation.
Most of them keep in hiding at daytime yet out at night for work in order to dodge from the inspection. Some even anchor the dredges in the main watercourse or mine close to the dykes with no permission.
According to the authorities, sand-extraction in some sections along the Yangtze in Hubei must be carried out at certain appointed time and areas provided permissions are obtained from the three departments of water, and mineral resources, and harbor control as well.
However, the fact is that most of dredgers working in this area have none at all or are short of permits.
(People's Daily 11/27/2000)
