Minister of Natural Resources and Environment: 'I accept my shortcomings in the mass fish deaths'

Admitting that the mass fish deaths in the Central region were a major environmental disaster, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment "admitted his shortcomings" for the slow and confused response.

On April 28, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, together with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography and scientists, went to the sea area in the Vung Ang Economic Zone (Ky Anh town, Ha Tinh) to conduct a field survey and clarify two groups of causes of mass fish deaths that the Ministry had announced at a press conference the day before.

Minister Tran Hong Ha (standing in the middle) went to the beach to inspect the Formosa Group's exhaust pipe system. Photo:Huong Giang.

Faced with some suspicions about Formosa's exhaust system discharging waste into the sea, causing environmental pollution, Minister Tran Hong Ha and his delegation went to inspect. The delegation took water and sediment samples "to check for heavy metal content".

Returning to the factory, the Minister and his team inspected the wastewater treatment system and environmental monitoring system of Formosa Group. "We will assign the central state management agencies under the Ministry and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to work directly with Formosa Company to review a number of issues regarding the wastewater treatment system," Minister Tran Hong Ha told the leaders of Formosa Group, emphasizing that the installation of a wastewater discharge system and underground pipes "is not allowed."

Mr. Tran Hong Ha also suggested that measures must be taken to monitor this system."At this time, we need to have more frequent and dense monitoring," he said.

Wastewater treatment system of Formosa Group. Photo:Huong Giang.

Regarding the mass fish deaths, Minister Tran Hong Ha stated that this was a major and extremely serious environmental disaster that had occurred for the first time in Vietnam. According to him, through inspection, the delegation had not discovered any evidence of a relationship between wastewater and waste and the environmental disaster, however, indirectly, there were related issues.

He assessed that the authorities were confused, slow to respond, and lacked experience in responding to catastrophic incidents. "As Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, I would like to accept my shortcomings in this matter," said Mr. Tran Hong Ha.

Minister Tran Hong Ha admitted his shortcomings when ministries and agencies were confused and slow in handling environmental disasters. Photo:Huong Giang.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, relevant sectors and scientists are continuing to determine the exact cause on a scientific basis in order to take measures. Mr. Tran Hong Ha affirmed that the Ministry will do "the utmost responsibility to find the exact cause in the spirit of impartiality, science and responsibility".

According to VNE