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Posts Tagged ‘Pollution’

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Government to combat environmental pollution in craft villages

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:04 am




Government to combat environmental pollution in craft villages


QĐND – Monday, January 10, 2011, 20:44 (GMT+7)

PANO – Deputy Prime, Minister Hoang Trung Hai, recently assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in coordination with other central agencies and localities, to draw up a comprehensive scheme on the treatment of environmental pollution at nationwide craft villages.


The Deputy Prime Minister also asked the Ministry to complete circulars on environmental technical standards in order to issue them in the third quarter of 2011.


According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, there are some 1,500 craft villages nationwide, of which 800 villages are located in the Red River Delta.


Meanwhile, results from recent surveys conducted by the Centre of Water Resources and Environment show that the environment of food processing, industrial and handicraft villages is alarming.  


Both officials and experts agreed that it was high time to immediately take serious measures against environmental pollution in craft villages in order to ensure sustainable development for the sector in the future.


Translated by Thu Nguyen


Source: QDND

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Alarming pollution in outskirt districts

In Uncategorized on December 16, 2010 at 9:49 am

More enterprises to cause environmental pollution have sought suburban districts to release waste, however, industrialization process has turned remote districts into crowded areas so industrial wastes from enterprises are destroying residents’ health.

Harmful smoke of a dumping ground in ward Long Binh gives  out (Photo: SGGP)

Many traditional brick-kilns in wards Long Binh and Long Thanh district 9 haunted pedestrians and members of households near by. Black thick columns of smoke released everyday and roofs and trees are covered with smoke.


In addition, wastes of these brick-kilns have covered streets of the wards. Take Nguyen Xien Street as an example. People have to wear face masks because dust from brick-kilns, cement and plastics workshops flies in the air.


Inhabitants Le Thi Lua and Nguyen Thi Tuoi said they had to close all doors but food and beverages are still covered with dust and they inhaled unpleasant smell.


Likewise, residents in communes Pham Van Hai, Tan Nhut and Le Minh Xuan near by the Le Minh Xuan Industrial Zone also live with pollution. The polluted areas have many canal systems which used to be clean and fish and shrimp ca live but they disappeared now. Inhabitants are in despair because they can’t grow any trees or feed animal. Somebody who tried to catch fish or crab will suffer ulcerated skin.


Angry with the raised pollution level, the locals and France’s Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City sent a letter to relevant agencies for help. But the circumstance has not been improved. While waiting for involvement of the government, people stopped trucks of kilns and factories from entering the street.

Source: SGGP

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Farmers seek US$31.5 mil compensation from Vedan for river pollution

In Vietnam Environment on September 18, 2009 at 4:16 pm








Thi Vai river is less polluted after Vedan stopped discharging wastewater

Farmers in Ho Chi Minh City’s Can Gio District have demanded VND567 billion (US$31.5 million) from Vedan Vietnam, a Taiwanese producer of monosodium glutamate based in Dong Nai Province, as compensation for damaging aquaculture farms and crops by discharging untreated waste into a local river.


They announced the sum September 17 at a meeting between the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Association, Can Gio People’s Committee, and other agencies.


The committee’s deputy chairman, Nguyen Van Phung, said the compensation was estimated based on the economic losses announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.


The association is representing 1,181 farmers who have complained of losses.


Yang Kun Hsiang, general director of Vedan Vietnam, has written to the Association asking to hold talks to settle the issue.


He admitted discharging untreated waste into the Thin Vai River was a wrong act but said the river had already been polluted by many other factories.


Related articles:
Vedan to meet farmers for compensation talk
Extension to Vedan damage deadline sought
Thi Vai farmers’ compensation discussed
Farmers’ association to demand compensation from polluting Vedan


Source: SGGP

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Cattle-feed wastewater reservoir breaks its banks, causing pollution

In Vietnam Environment on September 8, 2009 at 5:33 pm








Thi Tinh River is blacken after the wastewater reservoir of San Miguel Pure Foods was broken on July 25.

A Binh Duong Province-based cattle-feed producer, San Miguel Pure Foods, has yet to fix a breach of its untreated wastewater reservoir on July 25, which caused pollution and the deaths of numerous fish on the Thi Tinh River, the province’s environment inspectors said on July 27.


The pollution flowed into the Saigon River and was about six kilometers away from the Thu Dau Mot and Tan My water plants, inspectors said.


The inspectors ordered the company to dam up embankments to stop the untreated wastewater flowing into the river and reinforce its wastewater reservoir within 15 days.


The company blamed heavy rain for the “unanticipated” incident, which released more than 233,000 cubic meters of wastewater into Thi Tinh River.


Source: SGGP

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Environmental pollution raises alarm

In Uncategorized on December 8, 2008 at 4:42 pm

Hanoi (VNA) – A recent survey conducted by the Industry Policy Research Institute has forecast that environmental pollution in Vietnam will be four or five times higher than current levels by 2010.

Unless prompt measures are taken, total losses to the Vietnamese economy as a result of environmental pollution could be as much as 0.3 percent of the nation’s GDP by 2010 and 1.2 percent by 2020, the institute’s director Phan Dang Tuat has warned.

According to the survey, which was carried out in 18 economic branches and sectors, current urban area planning fails to incorporate waste treatment systems, resulting in alarming pollution levels in cities and industrial parks, with numerous businesses seriously flouting environmental management regulations.

It is estimated that 119 out of the country’s total of 183 industrial parks do not have dedicated waste treatment systems. In addition, in urban areas, only 60-70 percent of solid waste is collected and processed.

Widespread illegal mining of the country’s natural resources is another major cause of environmental pollution and waste.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in the first half of this year, over 1,000 incidents of illegal coal exploitation and collection were discovered and dealt with.

Despite the issuance of legal documents detailing sanctions for violations of environmental regulations and the establishment of an environmental police force, it will take some time to assess and address the impact of pollution on the environment, according to the institute.

The survey also revealed that Vietnam needs approximately 7.6 billion USD for environmental protection by 2020, focusing on the largest-polluting industry, steel, as well as other industries considered to be major culprits, including beer and alcohol, seafood, paper, garments and textiles, construction, mechanical engineering, transport, power and health care.-

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City councillors worried about pollution, waste

In Uncategorized on December 5, 2008 at 2:18 pm

HCM CITY — At a meeting of the HCM City People’s Council that began on Tuesday, deputies expressed fears that pollution, lavish use of public resources, and other factors could cause severe hardships to city residents next year.


Truong Trong Nghia, a deputy, said public investment has become “wasteful,” pointing out that the city has to pay interest on loans provided to infrastructure projects that have not become operational.


He also worried about the VND600 billion (US$35.5 million) subsidy bill for the city’s bus service this year. Despite the huge amount involved, only 5 per cent of the population used public buses, he said.


The city also wastes warehouses and other public properties. Unused warehouses and land should be seized to build schools, hospitals, and resettlement housing for people whose lands have been acquired for public projects.


Nguyen Dang Nghia said the report delivered by the People’s Committee at the opening session was “too optimistic.”


Environmental problems


Deputy Truong Trong Nghia said the 11 per cent economic growth this year is a ‘significant’ achievement but it was accompanied by environmental problems.


Many canals have been filled up and no new ones have been created to replace them, he said, adding this was one of the causes of the recent flooding.


Nguyen Chau Ky said environmental problems have reached serious levels but authorities have yet to pay attention to them or heed the council’s warnings.


Although a council team had invited Binh Chanh District authorities to attend a meeting on local environmental problems, no one turned up, he said.


Nguyen Dang Nghia said HCM City and Binh Duong Province have to spend VND370 billion ($21.8 million) to clean up the pollution in the Ba Bo Canal. But the city has dozens of polluted waterways like the Ba Bo, he added.


Nguyen An Binh said: “The figures in the report indicate ‘excellent’ living conditions in HCM City. But the reality is not so good. The recent floods show the poor infrastructure in the city.”


Duong Minh Quang said most of the 13,000 families living below the poverty line are in the five outlying districts. But investment to develop infrastructure in these districts remains inadequate. —

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Six companies to be suspended for river pollution

In Uncategorized on November 24, 2008 at 1:47 pm

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Nov. 19 told the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial People’s Committee to suspend operations of six companies polluting the Thi Vai river.

Bui Cach Tuyen, deputy director of the General Environment Department, said an inspection at the industrial parks where the companies are located revealed that that large quantities of untreated waste were being dumped into the river.

The six companies are Liem Chinh Company, Dong Nam Seafood One-Member Co. Ltd, My Xuan Paper Maker, Vung Tau Paper and Plastic Packaging Company, Hai Viet Refinery and Packaging Factory and Tien Dat Seafood Processing Company.

On the same day, the inspection team also gave the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee a list of 50 enterprises located in the province polluting the Thi Vai River , said Luong Duy Hanh, head of the team.

The companies have been charged with dumping more effluents than permitted, failing to treat waste water appropriately, and not paying environment fees.

Ao Van Thinh, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said most polluters were textile and dye companies.

Companies who pollute had to pay compensation to affected residents, he added.

A recent ministry report said that rapid industrialization over the past decade had caused serious pollution of a 10km section of the river.

Several companies have discharged waste water into the Ba Bo Canal, where the water remains black, according to Tran Thi Kim Van, deputy chairwoman of Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee.

The provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment said other companies in the province were still discharging effluents into the canal.

The department said two enterprises in Song Than I Industrial Park and 32 enterprises in the Song Than II Industrial Park were not connected to waste water treatment systems in industrial parks.-

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Pollution threatens agriculture: Minister

In Uncategorized on November 6, 2008 at 12:44 pm

Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said that the environment in Vietnam is getting worse and land and water degradation has become pressing matters.

“If those matters are not handled promptly, it is hard for the agriculture sector to grow sustainably,” Minister Phat said at a conference highlighting the environmental protection in agriculture and rural areas in Hanoi on Oct. 17.

He underlined the need to make the entire agricultural sector aware of environmental effects on agriculture to enable it to tackle outstanding issues relating to pollution, degradation, the effective use and exploitation of natural resources and the protection of biodiversity.

“It is impossible to have a clean agriculture if land, water and the ecological environment are polluted,” Phat emphasised.

The participants discussed the building of environmental standards for the agricultural sector, the development of technologies to treat agricultural wastes, and mechanisms to encourage society to take part in addressing environmental issues.

The agricultural sector has maintained a growth rate of 3.5 percent a year in recent time along side with making up 24 percent of the national GDP and 30 percent of exports, and generating jobs for 60 percent of the national workforce.

But, the agricultural and rural environment have been seriously polluted due to the uncontrolled use of fertilisers and pesticides and untreated wastes discharged by livestock ranches, fish farms and handicraft villages.

A survey conducted recently revealed that rural areas have discharged a total of 100 million tonnes of rubbish to the environment a year, with 30-40 percent of which being collected but not treated appropriately. The figure is predicted to rise to 145 million tonnes by 2010.

An official from the Department of Sciences, Technology and Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said contradictions between economic development requirements and environmental protection and the absence of a legal system to mandate environmental issues are big hindrances for relevant agencies to formulate concrete solutions to environmental matters at a national level.-

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Indoor air pollution a serious health threat across Viet Nam

In Uncategorized on October 18, 2008 at 12:57 pm

HA NOI — “Most people can’t imagine what it’s like to live in a smoky hut,” said Eva Rehfuess, of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, “it’s ten times worse than the most polluted cities.”


Rehfuess said that even the WHO was surprised by the magnitude of the problem. First addressed in the 2002 World Health Report, indoor air pollution was ranked, after water and sanitation, as one of the biggest environmental health risks in the developing world.


According to the WHO, health problems caused by indoor air pollution kill 2 million children each year.


At home









Solutions suggested


- Do not smoke or burn coal inside the house
- Ensure sufficient air circulation (this will help reduce humidity and reduce the effects of harmful household chemicals)
- Avoid excessive humidity, not more than 50 per cent RH (relative humidity) in summer and 30 per cent in winter
- Repair and dry out water damage caused by leaks and flooding and immediately clean mould
- Use water-based paint instead of oil-based paint
- Clean air filters frequently
- Keep plants inside the house to reduce pollution and provide oxygen
- Restrict the use of carpets, which collect dust and allergens.


The most harmful and widespread contaminant of indoor air is tobacco smoke, followed by coal smoke. Many Vietnamese families save energy and money by burning different kinds of household coal, which is extremely harmful to lungs. Other sources of indoor air pollution include improperly maintained or vented combustion devices, such as gas or propane cooking stoves, furnaces, water heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces.


Mold, dust mites and fumes from domestic chemicals can also cause a number of health problems.


“Mold growing in your home can release mold spores, toxins and bad odours,” says Do Hoang Oanh of the HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, “harmful chemicals can be released from synthetic fabrics, furnishings and household products.”


At the office


Nguyen Thanh Huong, an office worker, complained that she sometimes gets headaches, irritated eyes and has trouble concentrating at work. She would never attribute these symptoms to the electric lighting in the office, but according to the HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, strong light can make people tired and increase anxiety.


Air-conditioners, which run all day but are seldom cleaned, are also a significant source of air pollution.


“Air-conditioners should be cleaned often,” Oanh suggests. “Periodically, they should be turned off for cleaning and filtering dust and windows should be opened to let in fresh air.”


When people are exposed to pollutants over a long period of time they may begin to experience allergies, tiredness and serious diseases like lung cancer, asthma and dermatitis, Oanh warns. —

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Pollution levels ring alarm bells

In Uncategorized on October 18, 2008 at 12:56 pm







Nghe An’s Anh Son Cement Factory emits dangerous smoke into the air. Serious polluters will face strict punishment for violations.— VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha

HA NOI — Currently 4,000 factories in the country are causing serious environmental pollution, Nghiem Vu Khai, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Science, Technology and Environment has announced.


The findings were announced on Tuesday after the committee’s recent investigation of environmental protection in 20 provinces and cities.


Khai said the findings were even more damaging than expected, with an alarming volume of domestic and industrial waste being dumped into the environment.


He said the department planned to apply the highest punishments available under the Environment Protection Law to these polluters, which included both enterprises and hospitals.


If the culprits are found credit-worthy, however, they will be allowed to borrow money from the Environment Protection Fund to improve their waste treatment systems and try to fix the effects of their pollution, said Truong Manh Tien, the director of the fund.


Enterprises along the Cau, Nhue, Day, Dong Nai and Han rivers will take priority, said Tien.


The committee suggested that the Government publish specific guiding documents, from which the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, provinces and relevant sectors can use as reference to punish environmental offenders in industrial and urban areas.


Incidents where environment violations are so severe they fall under Criminal Law will be raised to higher levels, said Khai.


Khai stressed that it was necessary for local authorities to manage environment protection in their localities, improve the efficiency of environment protection activities, build environment observation and analysis stations and allocate capital for these activities. —

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