Earlier, Vedan said that it would pay VND7 billion as compensation for economic damages it caused farmers in Can Gio District. At the meeting, the company raised the payment to VND12 billion.
However, Doan Van Son, deputy chairman of Can Gio District People’s Committee, said that it was unreasonable to base on the density of 14 tons of aquatic products per square kilometer in Hong and Mekong rivers, in calculating the damages to the Thi Vai River.
According to his analysis, the figure of 14 tons of aquatic products per square kilometer means that a farmer only catches 2 kilograms of aquatic products per month.
Meanwhile, Can Gio District evaluated damages of more than VND32 billion for an area of 2,100 hectares with a production of 77 tons of aquatic products per square kilometer.
Farmers in Can Gio District would sue Vedan if the company refused to pay the compensation, Mr. Son said.
A representative of the Institute for Environment and Natural Resources said the cost of economic losses caused by Vedan to Can Gio District’s farmers was more than VND45 billion, adding that Vedan would likely to compensate for environment, ecosystem, and people’s health if the case was brought to court for trial.
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