Considerable damage was caused to the state budget as a result of the illegal exploitation of useful mineral resources and tax evasion. The damage is yet estimated to be much higher as many of the illegalities weren’t documented. There are many complaints from the local public authorities and citizens about the problems created by carriers of mineral resources as these travel at higher than allowed speed and exceed the admissible load weight, generating security risks and destroying roads. Such conclusions were reached by the commission of inquiry into the exploitation of useful mineral resources that presented a report in Parliament, IPN reports.
The commission’s head, MP Ina Coșeru, said that the institutions that monitor and control this area lack qualification. “As a result, this leads to excessive exploitation, different raider attacks on beneficiaries of subsoil and offers maneuvering space for ill-intentioned persons and business entities as regards the use of public property and funds. The system for monitoring the calculation of the volumes and circulation of these minerals is in a very bad state. We have two inspectors with a GPS and only four engineers who can take measures at the scene, with two of them holding public posts,” stated the MP.
She noted that irregularities were identified as regards the transportation of useful mineral resources. The supplies do not have weighting equipment in vehicle loading units and do not issue signed and stamped documents confirming the weight for each vehicle with minerals.
The report shows the mineral exploitation ignored the natural monuments and state protected natural areas. Owing to legislative gaps, the environmental impact wasn’t determined in the exploitation process. As a result, damage was caused to riverbeds, protected areas of international importance, biodiversity and quality of natural resources.
The commission recommended that the business entities should be urged to work legally or they should be stripped of the exploitation permit. In such situations, the Ministry of Environment should intervene promptly and terminate the contracts. Recommendations were also formulated for the Prosecutor General’s Office and other state institutions that are to report on the fulfillment of these by the set time limits.
The commission of inquiry into the exploitation of useful mineral resources and the determination of the environmental impact was constituted on November 4, 2021. It consisted of MPs representing the three parliamentary groups.
