Ho Chi Minh City Farmer Association said it will propose that the city People’s Committee seek funds from the city’s budget to advance VND2.2 billion (US$116,000) to famers in Can Gio District, to pay fees necessary to take legal action against Taiwanese MSG producer, Vedan.
The wastewater processing tank at Vedan. The company heavily contaminated Thi Vai River. (Photo:VNA)
The city People’s Committee had requested Vedan pay damages to farmers VND45.7 billion ($2.4 million). The claim was legitimate, based on results of investigations done by the Institute of Environment and Natural Resources acting upon the request of the Prime Minister and the environment ministry, said Phung, chairman of the association.
The association will also coordinate with the city Lawyers Association, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Institute of Environment and Resources of the HCM National University, to prepare documents necessary to sue Vedan if the company does not properly compensate victims of the pollution they caused in the Thi Vai River.
Earlier, representatives from the company said it would support farmers in the Can Gio District with VND7 billion ($368,000), accounting for one-tenth of the farmers’ actual losses, but it added that it was difficult to legally prove how much they were affected by the pollution.
The city People’s Committee asked relevant agencies to determine the best method for demanding Vendan comply and provide satisfactory compensation.
In September 2008, Vedan was caught discharging untreated wastewater to the Thi Vai River in Dong Nai province, causing serious pollution and heavy losses to thousands fishing households, including those in Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and HCM City’s Can Gio District. It turned out that the company had been doing it for 14 years.
