The order follows complaints of such exploitation to sell to builders and transport elsewhere to fill up low-lying areas.
The department said land speculators persuaded residents in both inner and outlying districts to change their “land use” from agriculture to aquaculture and dig ponds and lakes to breed fish.
When the residents dig their lands, speculators buy the soil that is dug up to sell to people requiring it to level their land.
The Ministry of Transport has also collected opinions to amend penalties for illegally mining waterways for sand, pebbles and minerals.
Those having licences to mine sand but violating regulations will be fined 5-10 million VND (270-540 USD) and have their licences withdrawn for three to six months.
Smaller fines of 500,000VND to 1 million VND will be slapped on those who drop sand, oil and waste in rivers
(VietnamPlus, 1/11/2009)