The Prime Minister has asked the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee to clarify reasons of air pollution in District 7, Binh Chanh and Nha Be and have solutions to solve the issue.
The PM requirement was issued after the press reflected that citizens in the districts have continuously suffered a stench which they suspected to originate from Da Phuoc waste treatment complex.
Many experts say that the complex’s treatment technology is backward despite the plant was invested at expensive prices. In addition, the landfill site locates unsuitable with HCMC development plan, where is considered to be a new center south of the city with many modern urban areas.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has been working to carefully estimate the waste treatment technology at Da Phuoc landfill site.
At a regular cabinet news conference last month, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said that the city People’s Committee and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment had directly surveyed and inspected the issue.
The department had initially judged that the entire complex’s operation might be the cause of the smelly condition, he said.
The ministry said that garbage has mainly been buried at Da Phuoc landfill site with the process and technology having been applied in the US.
However, inspectors have found many items related to leachate treatment including a reservoir have yet to be built.
Treatment process has also showed problems involving garbage receiving and the unreasonable use of bioproducts to handle the smell at the complex.
The ministry has tasked the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to directly inspect and propose specific solutions.
Saigon Xanh Company, a cesspool sludge treatment facility, has also been attributed to the air pollution in the area.