The Department of Natural Resources and Environment in
Of late, the local people of Long Thanh District in
Vo Van Chanh, Vice Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in
In the seminar, several environment experts and organs put forth their viewpoints on the case, notably the report made by the Ho Chi Minh City-based
After several months of investigation, the Natural Resources and Environment Institute under the
The Institute analysis shows that wastewater discharged by the company from 2008 until August last year polluted an area of nearly 114 hectares along the canal, which flows into the
In its report, the institute said about 113 hectares of the 682.8 hectares of the canal basin had been contaminated.
Based on these results, the institute has proposed that the provincial authorities set up a Steering Committee for determining the number of households that have suffered from the environmental pollution and assess the total damage, to form a basis for compensation that Sonadezi must pay to them.
As for damage to crops and poultry, Sonadezi should negotiate with those who have been affected and reach an agreement on the amount, since the damage has also been caused by other factors besides the pollution caused by the company, the institute suggested.
Meanwhile, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, working with relevant agencies in assessing the report, will soon define adequate compensation for farmers.
Vo Van Chanh, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the agency will work with the institute to resolve the pollution problem soon.
In 2011, the Sonadezi company was fined VND405 million ($19,440) for violating environmental protection law.