Nghe An ranks first nationwide in handling pesticide residue.

(Baonghean.vn) - Nghe An is one of the provinces with the largest number of pesticide storage facilities in the country, with 913 locations left over from the war period and the subsidy period.

According to Decision No. 1946/QD-TTg dated October 21, 2010, of the Prime Minister approving the Plan for handling and preventing environmental pollution caused by residual pesticides nationwide, Nghe An province has the highest number of pesticide residue sites in the country, with 189 out of 240 sites listed in Appendix I and 79 out of 95 sites listed in Appendix II.

In implementing the above plan of the Prime Minister, from 2011 to 2015, Nghe An province conducted 22 projects to investigate and survey the extent of pollution at 178 locations with residual pesticides; 102 locations have been investigated, including 40 requiring treatment, 61 requiring environmental remediation and restoration, and 1 location only requiring monitoring; investigations, surveys, and assessments of the extent of pollution are currently underway at 76 locations. Of these, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment is in charge of 149 locations (including 3 newly identified locations not included in Decision No. 1946/QD-TTg), and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is in charge of 32 locations.

Removing pesticide residue in Mau 2 hamlet, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district. Photo: My Ha

To date, Nghe An province has implemented 20 projects (21 sites) to address environmental pollution caused by pesticide residues; of which 6 projects have been completed and the land returned to the locality, 5 projects have completed the treatment works, and 7 projects are in the process of implementation. In coordination with other provinces, Nghe An is implementing 2 projects under the POP Project program to support the excavation of heavily contaminated soil for treatment using high-temperature incineration.

Based on a review of the five-year implementation of Decision No. 1946/QD-TTg dated October 21, 2010, of the Prime Minister and the National Target Program, Nghe An province is considered the leading province nationwide in implementing projects to treat pesticide residue.

Pearl