Concerns of hundreds of households in Quy Hop living next to the superfine stone powder processing factory
(Baonghean.vn) - For many years, hundreds of households in Chau Quang commune (Quy Hop district) have been constantly tortured by noise, dust pollution, and vibrations because of the continuous construction of stone powder processing factories nearby. They have petitioned many times, but to date this situation has not been resolved.
Concern about lung dust
For the past few months, since hearing the news that many workers of a stone powder processing enterprise in Nam Cam Industrial Park died of pneumoconiosis, Mr. Tran Dinh Cong (77 years old, Banh village, Chau Quang commune, Quy Hop) has been even more worried. Because right next to Mr. Cong’s house is also a stone powder processing enterprise, and his family is often exposed to dust.
The ground-floor house of Mr. Tran Dinh Cong's family is separated from the superfine stone powder grinding factory of Trung Hai Mineral and Trading Joint Stock Company by a fence and a road. "The factory operates in 3 shifts, noisy all day and night. The dust is hard to see but it feels hard to breathe," said Mr. Cong.
Mr. Cong and his wife came here to build a house and live since 1976. This area is quite close to the rocky mountains, used to be very peaceful, the air was fresh. However, since the rocky mountains were exploited by businesses, 3 white stone powder processing factories sprung up, his family's life has been greatly affected. "We want to move elsewhere, it's very tiring here because of the noise, we're worried about the fine dust affecting our health, but the district hasn't responded yet," Mr. Cong said with a sigh.
People here have suffered a lot since these three factories were built. When it's sunny, you can't see the dust, but at night, you can see it with a flashlight. "Fine dust sticks to the tables and chairs, you have to rub your finger to see it clearly because the dust particles are so small. We are very worried about our health, especially children and the elderly. People have been complaining for many years but there has been no change.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (41 years old, in Banh village, Chau Quang commune) said that the factory had previously compensated for relocation, but the compensation amount was too low so we did not agree. “The stone powder is super fine, so it is difficult to see during the day, but at night, you only need to shine a flashlight to see how much dust there is. They work day and night, without a minute of rest. We hope there will be a policy to relocate to a safer area,” Ms. Phuong said.
Similarly, the house of Ms. Lo Thi Hai and her husband (Ca village, Chau Quang commune) is also located next to another stone powder processing factory. "When people complain, someone comes with a dust meter, measures the noise and then leaves, but people don't know the results. Since the factory was built, we have been miserable because of the noise day and night and are afraid of breathing in the fine dust and getting sick."
These three superfine stone powder grinding factories were built and put into operation a few years ago, the first factory has been operating since 2016. Ban Ca has 94 households, many of which are only a few dozen meters from the factory. "We have repeatedly petitioned the commune and district about the noise and dust issues, but they have not been thoroughly resolved. This stone powder is superfine, and every time there is wind, it blows away. We are very worried about the health of the people living around the factory."
Whose responsibility is it?
This is not the first time that Chau Quang commune residents have been upset about this situation. In 2019, all 94 households in Ca village submitted a petition to the authorities to report that the superfine white stone powder processing factory of Trung Hai Mineral and Trading Joint Stock Company caused pollution.
In the petition, these residents said that the industrial cluster was established here since 2007, mainly stone powder processing enterprises. These stone processing factories all cause pollution and noise, which the residents can still "tolerate". However, since Trung Hai Minerals and Trading Joint Stock Company built a superfine stone powder grinding factory, which went into operation in February 2019, the noise has exceeded the residents' tolerance. In addition, the dust from this factory has also disrupted their lives. "The number of people showing signs of respiratory diseases has increased recently. Noise, emissions and strong vibrations affect our health and disrupt our lives," 94 households stated in the petition.
After that, the District People's Committee also established a team to inspect the contents that the people reflected. After checking the actual situation at the factory and surveying the households, the team worked with the company's representatives. The conclusion of the inspection team affirmed that the noise and people's reflections were well-founded.
According to the records, the crushing plantsstone powderThe superfine stone factory of Trung Hai Mineral and Trading Joint Stock Company is located close to residential areas. Many households are only about 15m away from these factories and are only separated by walls about 4m high. Some households do not even have walls. The dust from the grinding activities of the factories covers the furniture in the houses and the trees around the area of these factories.
Mr. Pham Cong Truyen - Chairman of Chau Quang Commune People's Committee said that the commune has 18 enterprises operating in white stone mining and processing, of which some enterprises have closed.
According to Mr. Truyen, because the industrial cluster is located near residential areas, when the factories operate, they directly affect the lives of the people, including the three stone powder processing factories mentioned above. People have repeatedly reported the noise and dust caused by the factories. Authorities have come to monitor and concluded that the dust pollution level is "within the allowable range". The government also issued a document requiring companies that have committed to operating to take measures to ensure the safety of people living around the factories.
Mr. Truyen also said that previously, some households had been relocated out of this industrial cluster area. After many households complained about noise pollution and concerns about fine dust affecting their health, the commune proposed that the district consider and evaluate the relocation of households living too close to and affected by the operations of the factories.
Meanwhile, a leader of the People's Committee of Quy Hop district said that households within the construction area of the factory have been relocated and cleared with State funds. Currently, if households living near the factory are affected, the company is responsible for compensating them for relocation./.
