Tieling Diaobingshan City, Liaoning Province responds to coal mining causing large-scale subsidence of farmland: some areas are no longer able to reclaim mines | Farmland | Tieling Diaobingshan City, Liaoning Province

Yesterday, China Voice exclusively reported on the sinking of a large area of farmland in Diaobingshan City, Tieling, Liaoning Province due to coal mining, making it impossible for farmers to cultivate normally. The relevant departments of Diaobingshan City have responded to China's claim that the issues reported by the public are true, and will strengthen the implementation of the main responsibility and analyze the actual problems in the mining area. How to rescue "injured" farmland and preserve the lifeline of food production?

01

Severe subsidence of 50000 mu of arable land

The water surface of the pond continues to increase

During a visit to Diaobingshan City, Liaoning Province, the reporter found that there were varying degrees of settlement and waterlogging in the cultivated land around more than ten villages, and in severe areas, ponds that could not be seen at a glance had formed; The corn in the field is prone to continuous lodging, with uneven height, making it difficult to guarantee a harvest. A villager said, "After the land sinks, the water in the fields accumulates inside and cannot be discharged, so the investment is in vain."

The red house in the distance is a high standard farmland supporting water supply station

In response to this, the Natural Resources Bureau of Diaobingshan City and the Mining and Settlement Office of Tiefa Coal Industry Co., Ltd. replied to China's claim that coal mining has caused subsidence of farmland, which is true.

Lan Bing, Director of the Natural Resources Bureau of Diaobingshan City, introduced that the total amount of arable land in Diaobingshan City is 2043378 acres, including 167789 acres of permanent basic farmland and 225519 acres of mining area. The arable land overlaps with the mining area, and the construction of high standard farmland can only be carried out within a limited range of arable land, so it is impossible to avoid the mining area.

Distribution map of permanent basic farmland in Diaobingshan City

Blue Ice stated that it has deployed troops to the mining subsidence area in the eastern part of Shandong, covering approximately 130 square kilometers, of which 100 square kilometers have experienced varying degrees of subsidence, with severe subsidence exceeding 30 square kilometers. One square kilometer is 1500 acres of land, which translates to 150000 acres of land in Diaobingshan City that has experienced varying degrees of subsidence. About a quarter of the 200000 acres of land have suffered severe subsidence.

Severe waterlogging areas have formed large ponds

The potholes and accumulated water in cultivated land belong to the surface of ponds. Due to abundant rainfall in the past three years, the water surface of the pond is still increasing.

"Our Diaobingshan used to have 389 large and small ponds with a water surface area of 8000 acres. Now, an additional 4700 acres of arable land have flowed out, some of which have been expanded on the original basis, while others have been newly formed."

The blue border represents the mining area, and the red area represents the pond water surface

02

Continuous coal mining has made land restoration difficult

Expert: Unable to reclaim farmland and should compensate for it in another location

The local area is also gradually reclaiming the "injured" land, but due to the continuous coal mining, the difficulty of land restoration is very high. Blue Ice said that they are also looking for the optimal solution.

"We are also actively coordinating with Tiemei Group to solve the problem. Coal mining is legal, but according to the law, miners have the responsibility and obligation to repair and treat the damage caused. Currently, production has not stopped, and the repair will continue to sink. We are also seeking advice from higher authorities and relevant experts to find a solution."

Wang Xiaowei, Deputy Director of the Mining and Sedimentation Office of Tiefa Coal Industry Co., Ltd., explained that the production mines in the Diaobingshan area of Tiemei Group are not in a stable subsidence state due to multiple coal seam mining, and can only repair a small portion of the land in a stable subsidence state first.

"In March of this year, before large-scale cultivation of the land, we dug many drainage ditches and constructed a total of more than 50000 meters. We are now gradually undergoing acceptance checks. We are doing our best to restore the farmland as much as possible."

Before aerial reclamation in October 2021

△ Aerial reclamation in November 2021

Local villagers have reported that some reclaimed farmland still has multiple areas of swampy water accumulation.

Wang Xiaowei stated that the project has been completed through a series of compliance procedures, otherwise it would not have been possible to complete the acceptance inspection. "The reclamation project has been accepted at the provincial and municipal levels in Tieling City. We assume the main responsibility and will not ignore any problems that may arise after the acceptance is completed."

Expert acceptance opinion on the 2021 governance task of Xiaoqing Mine of Iron and Coal Group

Blue Ice added that according to the advice given by experts, the local natural resources bureau is also urging Tiemei Group to implement the reclamation plan as soon as possible. "If some plots cannot be repaired, experts suggest supplementing them in other places, which is to cultivate farmland in other places, and make up for the loss of farmland that cannot be reclaimed one by one, achieving a 'balance of entry and exit'."

03

Tiemei Group: will actively promote governance

According to the "Explanation on the Management of Coal Mining Subsidence Areas" provided by Tiemei Group, Tiemei Group has currently carried out comprehensive land management in the stable subsidence areas of closed pit mines. From 2021 to 2022, Tiemei Group transferred the closed pit mines in the Bingshan area, and the original 4013 acres of land comprehensive management in Daming No.1 and No.2 mines have been accepted by relevant departments at the provincial, municipal, and county levels. From 2023 to 2024, the closed pit mine is expected to treat 4721 acres of land, with an estimated investment cost of 30.73 million yuan.

Wang Xiaowei stated that he will resolutely implement the main responsibility and actively cooperate in promoting relevant work.