Vinh City residents 'cry out' over polluting livestock farms

Suffocating from the stench

On the morning of August 1, we were present at the border area between block 15, Cua Nam ward and Dong Vinh ward, where there were a number oflivestock farmconcentrated here. According to observations, the area with these livestock farms is located at the end of Tran Nguyen Han Street (from Dong Vinh) and the junction between Tran Nguyen Han Street and Dang Van Thuy Street in Cua Nam Ward. There are at least 3 livestock farms with a scale of hundreds of square meters with houses covered with corrugated iron roofs and surrounded by a tight fence, in operation.

When we approached the farms, the smell of chicken manure was so strong in the hot sun that it was suffocating. Around some farms, sacks of chicken manure were strewn about. Under the pond near the chicken farm, white sacks floated in strips along the shore, the water in the pond had turned a thick green color, emitting a foul smell. Located near these farms is a residential area of ​​245 households in Block 15 of Cua Nam Ward. For many years, the people have had to endure such environmental pollution. Frustrated because they had petitioned many times but were not resolved, the people had to write a petition to the press for help.

Mr. Dau The Manh - a resident of Block 15, Cua Nam Ward said: Livestock farms here have appeared for more than 10 years, most of them are located on Dong Vinh Ward, the area bordering Block 15, Cua Nam Ward. On hot days, from early morning to late afternoon, the strong stench carries into the residential area, causing headaches, nausea, and affecting the health of our people. Due to the unbearable stench, every house has to close its doors regularly, and houses with small children sometimes have to "evacuate" to another place.

According to the petition of the people of block 15, Cua Nam ward, there are 3 livestock farms specifically named: Mr. Vo Van Du's family farm; Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tuyet's family farm; Mr. Nguyen Quang Loc's family farm. These farms are all located close to the residential area of ​​block 15.

Mr. Trinh Van At - Front Committee of Block 15, Cua Nam Ward said: The existence of livestock farms in this border area is unacceptable. People's health cannot be sacrificed for the existence of these farms. Many people have suffered from respiratory diseases. On hot days, these farms have to turn on fans to regulate the air, so the smell of chicken manure becomes even worse. Many families have to close their doors all day, and when it's hot, they don't dare turn on the fans because the more they turn on the fans, the more the stench is blown into the house. Many times, after washing clothes, they don't dare hang them outside because the stench is so strong that they can't wear them.

Land lease expired but still continue to raise livestock

What makes people in Block 15, Cua Nam Ward most afraid, besides air pollution, causing respiratory diseases, is that for more than 10 years, livestock farms have been operating here, and wastewater from livestock farms has been discharged directly into surrounding ponds and lakes. Many bags of chicken manure have even been thrown directly into ponds and lakes and seeped into underground water sources. Many families have wells, and every time they pump water, the smell is so strong that they cannot use it, at most they can only water their plants.

Mr. Ho Van Do - Head of Block 15, Cua Nam Ward also said: In most of the meetings with voters or meetings in the ward, he recommended that the government should have opinions to stop the operation of these livestock farms. Because the farms are all located on Dong Vinh Ward land, there needs to be coordination between the two local governments to resolve the issue. Mr. Do also informed us that these farms previously subcontracted land from the cooperative for a period of 5 years at a time, but by 2019, the contracts had expired. However, I do not understand why it still exists?

From the petition of the people of Block 15, Cua Nam Ward, and after directly recording the reality at the scene, we discussed with Mr. Dang Hieu Lam - Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward. Mr. Lam said that because this livestock area is located on the land of Dong Vinh Ward, after receiving feedback from the people as well as the Executive Committee of Block 15, the ward also proposed to inform the People's Committee of Dong Vinh Ward, and at the same time reported to the Environmental Police Agency for monitoring, inspection and handling. "In the coming time, the ward will also continue to propose and coordinate with the People's Committee of Dong Vinh Ward to handle it thoroughly, if there are any problems, it will be reported to the superior agency" - Mr. Lam emphasized.

On April 12, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 53/QD-UBND approving the investment policy of the new urban area project in Dong Vinh Ward. This new urban area is expected to have a total area of ​​over 55.6 hectares, with a total investment of VND 5,503 billion and will be implemented from 2022-2027. According to the plan, this urban area will cover the above-mentioned livestock farming area.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Toan - Chairman of Dong Vinh Ward People's Committee, said: Currently, Dong Vinh Ward has also received information about the incident. At the same time, it was confirmed that these farms have all expired their land lease contracts. Notably, recently, through inspection, the ward also administratively fined a farm owner in this area with the amount of 2.5 million VND, for dumping waste into natural ponds and lakes, and at the same time required the lake to be drained to treat the pollution.

Mr. Toan also pointed out that the current problems in this area are all included in the urban planning. Although the contract has expired, because the city has not completed the procedures for land acquisition and site clearance, the farms are still there waiting for inventory, so there have been cases of leasing and borrowing farms to raise livestock. To completely resolve the problem, the ward has proposed to the city to speed up the progress of asset inventory and complete the land acquisition dossier. Once the acquisition and site clearance are completed, these farms will also have to be cleared.

Obviously, developing household-scale livestock farming or concentrated livestock farms was a suitable model in previous years, but it is no longer suitable in the current context, when it has revealed problems related to environmental pollution. Especially farms built close to residential areas, without a guaranteed waste and wastewater treatment system. It is recommended that the Vinh City People's Committee direct relevant departments and branches to promptly handle this issue, avoiding prolonging it and affecting environmental issues.