Nghe An: Only 8/20 industrial clusters have invested in wastewater treatment systems.

Attending the meeting on behalf of the Provincial People's Council were Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People's Council: Cao Thi Hien - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Hoang Viet Duong - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee. Also attending were comrades: Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee, Head of the Provincial People's Council's Economic - Budget Committee; Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Committee, Head of the Provincial People's Council's Culture - Society Committee; leaders of departments and the Provincial People's Council Office. On behalf of the Provincial People's Committee were comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and leaders of relevant departments and branches. Photo: Thanh Duy

Many industrial parks and industrial clusters lack centralized wastewater treatment systems.

Through supervision, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong pointed out 14 shortcomings, clearly indicating that there were companies and units that did not strictly comply with and promptly handle and remedy the conclusions of inspections and checks on environmental protection work.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council also said that most industrial parks (IPs), industrial clusters (ICs), and craft villages in the districts have not yet built centralized wastewater systems.

Specifically, according to the report of the Provincial People's Committee, currently in Nghe An, 3/6 industrial parks have built centralized wastewater treatment systems, including Bac Vinh, Nam Cam, VSIP; only 8/20 industrial parks have invested in wastewater treatment systems, however, only Thap-Hong-Ky industrial park has a centralized treatment system, the remaining 7 industrial parks only have biological lakes.

The whole province has 42 production and business establishments on the list of establishments causing serious environmental pollution under the decisions of the Prime Minister and the Provincial People's Committee. Up to now, 23/42 establishments have been inspected and certified to have completed the implementation of thorough treatment measures, the remaining 19 establishments have not completed treatment, of which 14 are public utility units.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong speaks at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

At the meeting, members of the monitoring delegation also raised opinions, focusing mainly on environmental protection work at enterprises and industrial parks.

Deputy Head of the Provincial People's Council's Legal Committee, Thai Thi An Chung, said that many enterprises in industrial parks have been fined for discharging substandard waste into the environment and requested further clarification of the responsibilities of the district-level People's Committees as investors of industrial parks.

The Deputy Head of the Provincial People's Council's Legal Committee also said: Nghe An has a policy to support investment in building infrastructure for industrial parks with 4 support contents including: compensation for site clearance; internal traffic roads, internal drainage system; centralized waste treatment system; traffic roads outside the fence. However, through monitoring, the districts reflect that there is very little or no arrangement, leading to a very limited infrastructure situation in general and for environmental treatment services at industrial parks.

66 work accidents occurred

Regarding occupational safety and hygiene, records from the authorities show that from 2016 to the first 6 months of 2018, there were 66 occupational accidents in the province, causing 81 victims, of which 18 people died/15 cases, 44 people were seriously injured.

Regarding the regime and policies for employees, including insurance contributions, the total revenue from health insurance, social insurance, and unemployment insurance for employees of the business sector in the first 6 months of 2018 was 829 billion VND, however, the debt of these 3 types of insurance is currently 249.9 billion VND, accounting for 64.5% of the debt. Of which, 63 enterprises have large and long-term debts (debts of 300 million VND or more and debts of 6 months or more).

Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council Cao Thi Hien concluded the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Regarding the contents reflected by the members of the monitoring delegation, leaders of relevant departments and branches have accepted and clarified the issues.

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council Cao Thi Hien requested the Provincial People's Committee to continue paying attention to the province's planning and environmental protection strategies; at the same time, strengthen surprise inspections on environmental issues, especially rectifying the activities of private units licensed to perform monitoring functions so that monitoring results are objective and accurate.

Comrade Cao Thi Hien also suggested that relevant departments and branches continue to pay attention to propaganda work, raise workers' awareness of policies and benefits, as well as strengthen State management solutions to better protect workers' rights.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

On behalf of the Provincial People's Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong received the opinions of the Provincial People's Council's supervision delegation to complete the report, and at the same time directed relevant departments and branches to have better implementation solutions in the coming time.