Nghia Dan: Cassava starch processing facility operating for 16 years causes environmental pollution

On the morning of October 24, the monitoring delegation of the Provincial People's Council worked to monitor a number of cassava starch processing facilities in Nghia Dan district regarding compliance with the law on environmental protection, labor safety and hygiene, and policies for workers in the period 2016-2018. Comrade Phan Duc Dong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee, Head of the Provincial People's Council's Legal Committee, headed the monitoring delegation. Photo: Thanh Duy

The delegation worked with Son Long Production and Trading Joint Stock Company in Nghia Long commune, which is currently operating a cassava starch production line.

Through monitoring, it is shown that in the years 2016-2018, the company has made a lot of progress in waste treatment, becoming an environmentally safe production unit and was removed from the list of seriously polluting facilities in early 2018.

The total number of employees of the company is 84 people. One issue that the monitoring team is concerned about is that on April 4, 2016, there was a fire and explosion in the powder drying area. The cause was that during the lunch shift, the production management team did not coordinate between departments, causing a fire and explosion in the drying system area. The result was 1 death and 5 injuries.

Explaining to the monitoring team, the company's leaders said that after the incident, the company had fully paid for the treatment costs and compensated the victims' families; disciplined those at fault for the incident and put in place measures to prevent similar accidents.

The cassava starch processing factory of Son Long Production and Trading Joint Stock Company was removed from the list of seriously polluting facilities in early 2018. Photo: Thanh Duy

One issue raised by the monitoring team was that only 62 out of 84 employees of the company participated in social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance. Responding to this content, Mr. Phan Hoang Ha - Director of the company said: Those who do not pay insurance are retired employees working at the company.

Concluding the meeting, comrade Phan Duc Dong acknowledged the company's efforts in ensuring the environment, safety, labor hygiene and policies for employees.

The Head of the Provincial People's Council's Legal Committee also requested the company to pay more attention to labor safety and prevent work accidents; accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda work and have strict regulations on the use of labor protection for workers; improve skills for the team working on labor safety and hygiene.

Comrade Phan Duc Dong - Member of the Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee, Head of the Provincial People's Council's Legal Committee, discussed with Mr. Phan Van Trach, owner of a cassava starch processing facility. Photo: Thanh Duy

Also this morning, the delegation inspected the cassava processing factory of Mr. Phan Van Trach, Nghia Duc commune, Nghia Dan district. This is a facility on the list of facilities causing serious pollution because the wastewater treatment system is still rudimentary and not guaranteed, and wastewater is discharged directly into streams.

Mr. Phan Van Trach, the owner of the production facility, said that the facility has been in operation for about 16 years. However, in recent years, the source of raw materials has been unstable, making production difficult, and allocating funds to invest in completing environmental treatment infrastructure has also been difficult.

The wastewater treatment pit of Mr. Phan Van Trach's cassava starch processing facility in Nghia Duc commune is very rudimentary. Photo: Thanh Duy

Also this morning, the Provincial People's Council's monitoring delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong worked at TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company in Nghia Son commune, Nghia Dan district on compliance with laws on environmental protection, labor safety and hygiene, and policies for employees in the period 2016-2018.