Provincial People's Council supervises compliance with environmental protection laws in Nghia Dan district

Before the meeting,Supervisory teamconducted a field inspection at farm cluster No. 2 of TH Dairy Food Joint Stock Company and the domestic waste treatment station of T-Tech Technology Group Joint Stock Company.

The monitoring team inspected the construction site of the wastewater treatment plant of the No. 2 farm cluster of TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company. Photo: Tien Dong

At TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company, the delegation directly inspected the construction of the wastewater treatment plant of farm cluster No. 2.

TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company has 3 farm clusters with a scale of raising about 60,000 cows. Currently, farm clusters 1 and 3 have built wastewater treatment systems, while farm cluster 2 is building a wastewater treatment system with a capacity of 2,000m³/day and night. Expected to be put into trial operation at the end of the third quarter of 2023.

The wastewater treatment plant of farm cluster No. 2 is expected to be completed and tested by the end of the third quarter of 2023. Photo: Tien Dong

The monitoring team also worked with the domestic waste treatment station of T-Tech Technology Group Joint Stock Company. Here, the team listened to recommendations, difficulties, and problems related to waste treatment, the problem of outstanding waste treatment fees, and the lack of land allocation for the project according to the plan, leading to difficulties in expanding the scale of treatment.

The monitoring team worked with the domestic waste treatment station of T-Tech Technology Group Joint Stock Company. Photo: Tien Dong

After the on-site inspection, the monitoring team worked with the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district. At the meeting, the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district also reported on the compliance with environmental protection laws of organizations, units and enterprises in the area.

Currently, the main environmental problems in Nghia Dan district, the most worrying is the status of pesticide residue. Because in the production process, people use a large amount of chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers and other types of plant protection chemicals. According to statistics, currently, Nghia Dan district has 21 pesticide residue points. Not to mention, each year, the district uses about 3.78 tons of pesticides and 5,370 tons of various types of chemical fertilizers to increase productivity and protect crops.

The use and management of pesticides and chemical fertilizers for agricultural production are not in accordance with the correct procedures, and the abuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is still common, changing the quality of underground water and the surrounding environment.

The monitoring delegation worked with the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district. Photo: Tien Dong

To deal with this problem, the Provincial People's Committee has approved five more environmental pollution treatment points in Nghia Hong, Nghia Phu and Nghia Loc to handle pesticide residues.

In addition, currently in the district, the wastewater and livestock waste treatment systems of some facilities are not guaranteed. Due to limited budget, the centralized domestic wastewater treatment system in the district has not been invested and operated yet.

In 2022, the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district also fined more than 26 million VND for 2 cassava starch and cassava processing facilities of Mr. Phan Van Dung in Nghia Duc commune and Mr. Nguyen Hong Phuc in Nghia Khanh commune. In addition, it also imposed an administrative fine of 30 million VND on Nghe An 1/5 One Member Co., Ltd. and forced it to build and install environmental protection works that meet technical standards within 6 months. It also fined 1 livestock business household without an environmental license more than 32 million VND.

Currently, the situation of domestic waste treatment in Nghia Dan district is also becoming a matter of concern. From 2017 to 2022, waste in the district was basically collected and treated by T-Tech Technology Group Joint Stock Company. However, up to now, the amount of waste collected and treated is still quite large, waste from previous years is gathered in uncovered yards and yards, and leachate is not collected and treated properly.

Garbage stagnates at the domestic waste treatment station of T-Tech Technology Group Joint Stock Company. Photo: Tien Dong

Environmental incidents at some production and business establishments of organizations and individuals in the area still occur: manure spill incident at Farm Cluster No. 2, 3 - TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company; wastewater pipe burst incident at Phan Van Trach Cassava Starch Processing Factory (Nghia Duc Commune).

At the meeting, representatives of departments and branches also raised some opinions related to the management of production and business activities of factories; environmental treatment activities of farms, households, domestic waste as well as the management of surface water and groundwater systems in the locality. In particular, it is necessary to promptly and completely resolve the current problem of stagnant domestic waste.

Mr. Tran Manh Ha - Vice Chairman of Nghia Dan District People's Committee answered some opinions of the Supervisory Delegation. Photo: Tien Dong

At the meeting, Mr. Tran Manh Ha - Vice Chairman of Nghia Dan District People's Committee also responded and accepted the opinions of the Supervisory Delegation. Nghia Dan District People's Committee proposed that the Supervisory Delegation give opinions so that the locality can supplement the environmental career funding source for the district and commune levels to ensure funding for the district level to operate the waste treatment plant, complete the wastewater treatment system at Nghia Long Industrial Park. Consider and continue to handle the remaining points and hand over the clean site that has been treated for residual pesticides to Nghia Dan District for management.

Regularly establish inspection teams for environmental protection work for organizations and individuals implementing investment projects in the district to promptly handle violations and correct shortcomings in the operation process. At the same time, create the best conditions for businesses to operate in accordance with the law.

Comrade Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the monitoring delegation chaired the meeting with the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district. Photo: Tien Dong

Concluding the meeting, Comrade Nguyen Nam Dinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council requested the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district to continue to improve the work of propaganda, inspection, examination and strict handling of violations related to environmental issues. The monitoring delegation also accepted the recommendations and proposals of the district to continue working with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone, and at the same time complete the report before submitting the results of the monitoring delegation's work to the Provincial People's Council.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council also requested the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district to continue to pay attention to leading and directing the implementation of regulations related to environmental protection, considering this a regular task; handling existing problems related to water sources, environmental pollution issues in production areas, livestock areas...