Nghe An: Pollution in industrial clusters is a major concern.

Social consequences

The Dien Hong Industrial Cluster (Dien Chau), built in 2013, covers a total area of ​​10 hectares and houses 41 production and business establishments producing items such as rebar, steel billets, galvanized steel pipes, roofing sheets, barbed wire, and plastic pellets. However, due to inadequate wastewater and exhaust gas treatment processes, smoke from plastic burning and steel billet smelting facilities, as well as industrial wastewater, is being discharged into the environment, affecting the lives of local residents.

Mr. NQ, a resident of Dien Hong, said: “The facilities here collect all kinds of waste, from bottles and batteries to iron and steel, all very dirty. The people here suffer from toxic wastewater during the day and inhale smoke from the iron smelting and plastic pelletizing facilities at night. It's terrible. Many delegations from the district and province have come to inspect, but there hasn't been much improvement. Although the industrial cluster has a drainage ditch, water still overflows onto the road, directly affecting 16 households to the east of the cluster.”

Meanwhile, the Thap-Hong-Ky Industrial Cluster (Dien Chau district), with over 30 production and business establishments dealing in galvanized steel pipes, steel billets, roofing sheets, steel, industrial garments, fertilizers, etc., although having a centralized environmental treatment system, is still causing air pollution for residents around the industrial cluster. Ms. Tham, a resident of Dien Thap commune, said: "The emissions from the factories make it very unpleasant for people in the surrounding areas to smell them..." The reality of environmental pollution in industrial clusters and craft villages in Dien Chau district is a pressing issue, and residents have repeatedly complained to various levels of government and relevant agencies.

Stone quarrying in the industrial cluster of Chau Loc commune, Quy Hop district. Photo: Viet Phuong

In Vinh City, 3 out of 5 industrial clusters are operational, but the wastewater treatment system has not been comprehensively invested in, and wastewater from many businesses is discharged directly into the environment. For example, at Xuan Ngoc Co., Ltd., specializing in the production of plywood and veneer, located in the Dong Vinh Industrial Cluster, according to the Provincial People's Council's report, the environmental protection commitment document was found to be too rudimentary during monitoring and inspection; the environmental monitoring results, contracted by another company, were good, but the actual monitoring was completely different. In 2016 and 2017, the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment conducted inspections and issued conclusions requiring this company to rectify environmental protection issues, such as the treatment of hazardous waste and industrial waste, but the facility has not complied.

Strengthening the accountability of district-level authorities.

According to the plan, by 2020, Nghe An province will have 50 industrial clusters with a total area of ​​802.8 hectares, of which 12 are fully occupied and 39 have had their detailed plans prepared and approved. However, currently only 8 out of 20 industrial clusters have invested in wastewater treatment systems. According to Mr. Thai Van Nong - Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, among the 8 industrial clusters with wastewater treatment systems, only the Thap - Hong - Ky industrial cluster (Dien Chau) has a centralized treatment system, while the remaining 7 only have biological ponds.

North Vinh Industrial Park wastewater treatment plant. Photo: Viet Phuong

Furthermore, only 4 out of 20 industrial clusters in the province have wastewater and rainwater separation systems, and 7 out of 20 industrial clusters do not have centralized wastewater treatment systems. One industrial cluster is currently constructing a wastewater treatment system. Thus, compared to 2017, the percentage of industrial clusters with invested wastewater treatment systems remains unchanged, despite the Provincial People's Committee assigning responsibility to the district-level People's Committees for implementation.

For general solid waste, household solid waste, hazardous waste, and basic industrial waste, collection is handled by facilities that contract with qualified businesses for transportation and treatment. However, the collection and treatment of solid waste in industrial clusters still have some limitations: Some facilities with small amounts of industrial waste still collect and treat it together with household waste.

Production of fine art wooden furniture at the Yen Thanh town industrial cluster. Photo: Viet Phuong

Recently, speaking at a working session with the Provincial People's Committee as part of a monitoring program on compliance with laws on environmental protection, occupational safety and hygiene, and policies for workers in organizations, units, and businesses in the province, Ms. Thai Thi An Chung, Deputy Head of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council, stated that Nghe An has a policy to support investment in the construction of industrial park infrastructure with four support components: land compensation and clearance; internal roads and drainage systems; centralized waste treatment systems; and roads outside the industrial park boundaries. However, monitoring reports from the districts indicate that very little or no funding has been allocated, leading to a situation where infrastructure in general, and for environmental treatment in particular, is very limited in industrial parks.

Dust and dirt from stone quarrying in Chau Loc commune industrial cluster (Quy Hop district). (Photo: Archival image)

Quite a number of businesses in industrial clusters have been fined for discharging substandard wastewater into the environment. The head of the Nghe An Provincial Department of Environmental Protection suggested that the responsibilities of district-level People's Committees, as the investors of industrial clusters, need to be further clarified, because in reality, many localities do not pay attention to this issue.

Along with planning investments in environmental treatment systems, local People's Committees need to proactively coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to improve environmental protection knowledge in industrial clusters for environmental officers and business owners/households. This will help production facilities implement environmental protection measures more effectively, contributing to the sustainable development of production and business.