Who is responsible for maintenance?
The pesticide pollution treatment project in Mau 2 hamlet, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district was constructed by the Center for Application of Science and Technology Advances in late 2008. After nearly two years of use, some items of the project have begun to deteriorate.
In 1965-1967, a facility for mixing and producing DDT and 666 pesticides was built in Mau 2 hamlet, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan. Due to the lack of attention paid to environmental protection and pollution treatment, after moving, the factory was only roughly leveled, leaving a large amount of untreated pesticides underground in the Mau 2 hamlet area.
Over the years, the level of pesticide contamination in the warehouse has become increasingly serious. After analyzing some soil samples, Nghe An Plant Protection Department determined that this area contains pesticide residues exceeding the permitted standard. Currently, there are 17 families living around this area and there are many signs of health effects, especially some cases of sudden death, cancer, stroke, nervous system, headaches...
Sewer not built according to design process
Faced with the serious effects of pesticide residues, at the end of 2008, the Nghe An Department of Natural Resources and Environment built a dike around the factory area. Next, the project "Project to treat pesticide pollution levels in Mau 2 hamlet, Kim Lien commune" was assigned to the Center for Application of Scientific and Technological Advances to implement by building a concrete dike to prevent the seepage of pesticides into the surrounding environment. At the same time, an underground pipe system was built to lead water from the old foundation of the pharmaceutical factory to the activated carbon filter tank in the field in front of the village. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment also planted Vecteva grass on the ground to treat pesticides.
Although the project was only accepted in September 2009, some items have now begun to deteriorate, with many cracks. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Luoc, Secretary and Head of Mau 2 Hamlet, complained: There are many sections that are not constructed as designed, the section from the pesticide dump to the sewer has no cover. In the recent rain, the water did not pass through the settling tank in time and overflowed into the fields. In addition, the project included financial support for people to build rainwater tanks, but 17 households only received a total of 15 million VND, so they could not do it.
Mr. Pham Hong Hai - Director of the Center for Application of Science and Technology Advances, the unit assigned to handle and construct the project, said: "All stages of the project have been completed and accepted in September 2009. However, after two years of use, the project will certainly be damaged if not maintained.
In addition, grass and plant care must also be checked regularly if grass and plants die and must be replanted; check ditches, tanks, and check for water leaks to fix them; periodically check water quality before and after treatment to adjust the active substance for water treatment. Every 2 years, replace activated carbon and also take soil samples for analysis after 2 years to assess the level of soil pollution.
Regarding people's questions about the support money for building water tanks, Mr. Hai affirmed: we proposed a support of 5 million VND/household, but in reality, only a total of 15 million VND was approved for 17 households.
Thus, the degradation of the pesticide warehouse treatment facility in Mau 2 hamlet, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan is real. But who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility? Is the Center for Application of Science and Technology Advances responsible for the repair? The above question of the people of Mau 2 hamlet, Kim Lien, is eagerly awaited to be answered by the relevant sector?
D. Phuong - M. Ha
