Environment
Polluted river blamed on local authority inaction
  • | dtinews.vn | July 08, 2016 08:48 AM

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has ordered an urgent inspection of A Cuong Minerals JSC which is accused of discharging untreated waste water into Cam Dan River in Bac Giang Province.

 

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment ordered an urgent inspection of A Cuong Minerals JSC

On July 7, Minister Tran Hong Ha asked the Vietnam Environment Administration to work with the General Department of Geology and Minerals, provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the police to carry out inspection and punishment.

A Cuong Minerals JSC could have their operations suspended or have their permit for mineral exploitation revoked if they are found to have violated regulations and damaged the environment. Results of the inspection must be submitted to the ministry by July 20.

A Cuong has received warnings and been fined hundreds of millions of VND for discharging untreated water since 2014. The inspection teams have asked the company multiple times to stop polluting the river and to treat the waste properly before discharging.

The discharge pipe is located openly by Highway 31, on the route to An Chau Town. The 30 metre-long pipe leads directly to Cam Dan River.

 

The discharge pipe

Dinh Quang Hiep, head of the police force in Son Dong District, said A Cuong were fined previously by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment but they paid the fines and then continued discharging waste.

Most recently, after finding out that the untreated waste water and mud are still being discharged into the river on June 25 from two of A Cuong Minerals JSC’s copper refineries, the inspection team from Cam Dan Commune People's Committee and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Son Dong District demanded the company to stop and dredge the river. The company was also asked to conduct an environmental impact assessment and propose solutions.

However, as nothing has been done effectively, public disquiet has intensified and the inaction of the local authorities has become particularly noteworthy.

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