The Central Inspection Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam said that violations caused by irresponsible former officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the central province of Ha Tinh during the implementation process of Formosa steel project were such serious that disciplinary actions against them must be considered on February 22nd.
The announcement was made after the commission’s 11th session took place in Hanoi on February 15-17th making conclusions about violations by officials involved in Formosa wastewater release which devastated north central sea and killed fish en masses last year.
According to the conclusions, the ministry’s Civil Affair Committee in the phase of 2008-2016 was irresponsible in management, instruction, inspection and supervision over the Formosa project. That caused violations in assessment, approval and change of environment impact report and wastewater release spot.
Nguyen Minh Quang, former minister and secretary of the committee; Bui Cach Tuyen, former deputy minister, member of the committee and head of the Vietnam Environment Administration were held responsible for the above violations.
Nguyen Thai Lai, former deputy minister and member of the committee, was directly responsible for wrongdoings in field he was in charge of and must bear part of responsibility for shortcomings by the Civil Affairs Committee.
Mai Thanh Dung, former head of the ministry’s Environmental Impact Assessment Department and Luong Duy Hanh, former head of the Environmental Protection Department were irresponsible in conducting their tasks.
The Central Inspection Commission said that violations by the Civil Affair Committee and the above officials were such serious that disciplinary measures must be considered.
In Ha Tinh province, the Civil Affair Committee of the provincial People’s Committee in terms 2004-2011 and 2011-2016 were irresponsible in leadership, management, supervision and inspection over Formosa steel project, resulting in violations in assessment, approval, licensing and state management to the project.
The main responsibility went to Vo Kim Cu during his term of office as deputy secretary of the provincial Party Committee, secretary of the provincial Civil Affairs Committee and chairman of the provincial People’s Committee in the term of 2011-2016, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee and director of the province’s economic zone management board in 2008-2010.
Others held responsible for the incident comprise Ho Anh Tuan, head of Vung Ang Economic Zone Management Board in the phase of 2010-2016; Le Dinh Son, Dang Quoc Khanh, Duong Tat Thang and Nguyen Nhat during their term of office as members of the provincial Civil Affair Committee.
The Standing Party Committee of the province in the term of 2005-2016 was irresponsible in leadership, instruction, inspection and supervision over the Ha Tinh Civil Affair Committee while implementing the project.
The Central Inspection Commission said that violations and shortcomings by the Civil Affair Committee, Vo Kim Cu and Ho Anh Tuan were such serious that disciplinary actions against them must be considered.
The commission required the Ha Tinh Standing Party Committee and Le Dinh Son, Dang Quoc Khanh, Duong Tat Thang and Nguyen Nhat to make self-criticisms, seriously draw experiences and instruct irresponsible officials to make self-criticisms and consider disciplinary actions against them.
