Giant sinkholes plague Hubei mining region

Liu Xiaoming, the district's section chief for mine management, explained the problem.

"If no filling is done (after the mine has been closed), water accumulates and the pillars become waterlogged, which results in the collapse of the pillars and ground subsidence."

Filling a mine costs between 10 yuan and 20 yuan ($1.63 and $3.27) per cubic meter, but mining companies rarely include this cost in their budgets, he said.

Su Yongqing, head of the Xinqiao village committee, confirmed that the sinkholes became more frequent after many mines were closed in 2009. Sixteen cases of ground settlement have occurred in Dongbao and 17 in Duodao district.

Government action

Many farmers have been resettled by the local government due to the frequent subsidence and the deterioration of the environment, which has in turn affected agricultural production.

Sixty-three households have moved out of Zilingpu, which is now almost deserted. Only eight households stayed on because of insufficient compensation provided for relocation. They said they would not be able to support themselves without income from farming their land.

Local authorities say they are working on tackling the issue, attempting to enforce good practice in those mining operations that continue, while encouraging the filling of mines once they are closed.

Wang Yuchuan from Jingmen's land and resources bureau said, "Several gypsum mining areas are facing a difficult time due to restructuring, and the authority is strengthening their management, including standardizing pillars and refilling with the waste materials."

However, he conceded, it is "almost impossible" to bring all the mines under control.

According to the local government, all gypsum mines in the area are required to close by the end of 2015. The mining areas in Dongbao and Duodao, meanwhile, are part of an urban planning area and are earmarked for development.

Contact the writers at liukun@chinadaily.com.cn and zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn