The pollution at Rao Dung drainage canal needs to be resolved completely as soon as possible.
(Baonghean) - Recently, environmental pollution at the Rao Dung sluice gate in Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc district) has seriously affected the lives of local people.
Polluted water sources
Located just a few hundred meters from the Rao Dung sluice gate, several shrimp farms belonging to households in Nghi Thai commune, Nghi Loc district, have faced numerous difficulties in recent years due to unusual shrimp mortality. Recently, nearly 0.5 hectares of shrimp farms belonging to Mr. Vuong Duc Hoe's family in Thai Binh hamlet, Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc), died just 20 days after being stocked.
Seeing the dead shrimp, Mr. Hoè couldn't help but feel heartbroken. Normally, he's at the shrimp pond every day, turning on the oxygen pump, but for the past few days, the shrimp have been dying in droves, floating on the surface, and he can't even collect them all. With nearly 10 years of experience in shrimp farming, Mr. Hoè said that this unusual shrimp mortality has occurred every year in recent years.
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| Shrimp farming areas in Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc district) are being affected by water pollution. In the photo: Officials from Nghi Thai commune inspect the shrimp of Mr. Vuong Duc Hoe's family in Thai Binh hamlet, which have died unexpectedly. Photo: Thanh Le. |
“Shrimp farmers in this area just released shrimp on March 17, 2020, and since then, the shrimp have been dying unusually due to water pollution. In the short term, people hope the government will provide support with chemicals to treat the ponds where the shrimp are dying, because discharging the water from these ponds will continue to pollute the environment. In the long term, relevant authorities need to find a definitive solution to address the water pollution from Vinh City flowing into the Rao Dung canal.”
Thai Binh hamlet has the largest area of agricultural land affected by wastewater pollution from the Rao Dung sewer among all affected hamlets in Nghi Thai commune. Water pollution has been ongoing for several years. Due to this pollution, the shrimp farming area of 36 households in four hamlets – Thai Hung, Thai Hoc, Thai Binh, and Thai Cat – in Nghi Thai commune has been severely affected in recent years. Not only have the shrimp died, but 29 hectares of rice paddies in Thai Binh hamlet have also been affected, withered, and turned yellow due to water pollution. Even many people who wade in the water to work in the rice fields have developed itchy rashes on their hands and feet.
According to Nguyen Van Luc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc district), the water pollution at Rao Dung sluice gate stems from two sources. Firstly, domestic wastewater from Vinh City flows directly into the sluice gate via a canal; secondly, wastewater from the Vinh City Wastewater Treatment Plant (located in Hung Hoa commune) is discharged into the environment. The water pollution from Rao Dung sluice gate affects the shrimp farming and rice cultivation areas of the entire commune. This has been a pressing issue raised repeatedly by voters in the commune during meetings with constituents by People's Council representatives at all levels, but it has yet to be resolved definitively.
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| Water pollution is affecting rice paddies in Nghi Thai commune. Photo: Thanh Le |
"Local authorities and people in the commune hope that the relevant agencies will quickly take decisive action to find solutions to address and minimize environmental pollution, ensuring the lives and production of the people."
According to Provincial People's Council representative Dinh Thi An Phong (constituency in Nghi Loc district): Voters have repeatedly raised concerns about wastewater treatment at the Rao Dung culvert in Nghi Thai commune, Nghi Loc district, across many sessions. The Provincial People's Committee has provided explanations, but voters are not satisfied because the explanations are too general. This issue has a direct and long-term impact on people's lives, yet only about 40% of the pollution has been resolved. This situation is directly affecting approximately 100 hectares of agricultural land in Nghi Thai commune and neighboring areas. Therefore, relevant agencies need to strengthen supervision and find definitive solutions for the people.
Clarify the responsibilities of the relevant levels and sectors.
Regarding the environmental pollution situation at the Rao Dung canal and the water sources in some nearby areas, which is a reality and has recurred for many years, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Vo Duy Viet, stated: The Rao Dung River receives water from the northern area of Vinh City (according to the North Canal basin) and the eastern area of Nghi Loc district (Nghi Thai commune). Therefore, it is the discharge point for wastewater from the North Canal basin and from the Vinh City Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hung Hoa commune…
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| The water source from the Rao Dung sewer is polluted. Photo: Thanh Le |
“Water in the North Canal area, according to regulations and in some places, flows into this canal and is then transported to the wastewater treatment plant in Hung Hoa commune before being released into the environment. However, this treatment has not achieved 100% efficiency, leading to the issues raised by voters. The responsibility lies with the two localities: Vinh City and Nghi Loc District. With the responsibility of the relevant sector, from 2017 to the present, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has inspected and issued numerous guidance and directives to these two localities, but the treatment is still facing difficulties and has not been completely effective.”
In response to voters' concerns, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to take the lead and coordinate with the Vinh City People's Committee and Nghi Loc District People's Committee to resolve pollution issues. As a result, regarding the Vinh City Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hung Hoa commune: The plant has been granted a wastewater discharge permit by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and periodic environmental monitoring and supervision, as outlined in the environmental impact assessment report and discharge permit, is being carried out in accordance with regulations…
Furthermore, the Vinh City People's Committee has also directed the installation of an automatic water quality monitoring system at the plant before discharging treated water into the Rao Dung River. The data is continuously connected and updated to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. In case of any problems at the plant, such as the treated wastewater not meeting requirements, the system will alert the relevant environmental protection agencies so they can take corrective action.
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| North Canal (Vinh City). Archival photo. |
Regarding wastewater from the North Canal basin, the Provincial People's Committee has directed the Vinh City People's Committee to implement the North Canal renovation and upgrading project. Accordingly, wastewater from both banks of the canal is collected and pumped to the treatment plant, not directly discharged into the North Canal and Dao Rung River. To date, the project has been basically completed. However, during the trial operation, the pipeline system encountered problems, so wastewater has not been pumped to the treatment plant and is still flowing into the North Canal, the regulating lake, and then into the Rao Dung River…
“The Provincial People's Committee has requested the Vinh City People's Committee to direct relevant units to focus on rectifying the problem and handing over the pipeline and wastewater pumping station to Vinh Urban Infrastructure Management and Development Joint Stock Company for management and operation according to the approved design. After the rectification is completed, the issue raised by voters will be resolved.”
