It is difficult to meet environmental criteria.

(Baonghean)Although not designated as a model commune, Hung Loc (Vinh City) has so far achieved 16 out of 19 criteria for new rural development. With the remaining 3 criteria – cultural infrastructure, irrigation, and environment – ​​Hung Loc commune aims to complete them by 2014-2015, but it is highly likely that this will be difficult to achieve...

Raw materials are piled haphazardly on the road leading to the Hung Loc industrial cluster.

According to Mr. Le Duy Thai, head of My Ha hamlet (a residential area adjacent to the small Hung Loc industrial cluster), environmental pollution in the area is a long-standing problem. Residents have complained numerous times, and the media and authorities have intervened many times, but nothing has been resolved. Smoke, dust, noise, and wastewater from paper, plywood, and recycled plastic companies continue to plague the residential areas of Hoa Tien and My Ha hamlets, creating a squalid environment. "For years, things have only gotten worse; nothing has improved. The smoke and dust are increasing, the drainage ditches in the industrial zone have all collapsed, and wastewater doesn't go to the collection pits but instead overflows into the fields, contaminating the residents' drinking water. In My Ha and Hoa Tien hamlets, the elderly and children frequently suffer from respiratory illnesses, and rice yields are low. The people are suffering greatly from the pollution..." - Mr. Le Duy Thai expressed his frustration.

As Mr. Thai said, the Hung Loc industrial cluster no longer resembles an industrial cluster. Both sides of the road are covered with bushes, garbage, waste from cattle, and various raw materials such as timber, plywood, and stone from the businesses. The road embankments have become drying yards for timber, and the retaining walls on both sides have collapsed in many places. The wastewater drainage system not only lacks covers but has almost completely collapsed. Therefore, almost every company has pipes discharging wastewater, which flows everywhere. Below, the wastewater causes pollution, while above, numerous chimneys, only a few meters high, emit plumes of black smoke and dust with an extremely unpleasant smell.

The residential areas of My Ha and Hoa Tien hamlets suffer from environmental pollution caused by companies located in the industrial cluster. My Thuong hamlet, on the other hand, is polluted due to its proximity to a cemetery; while Xuan Hung and Tan Hung hamlets (near the North Canal, adjacent to the Polish Hospital) and Mau Lam hamlet (adjacent to Military Hospital 4) are polluted by hospital wastewater. These days, along the road to My Thuong hamlet, votive offerings are scattered everywhere, and garbage is carelessly dumped in the open canals, floating downstream. Mr. Le Duy Duc (a resident of Hamlet 5, Hung Loc commune), while working in his field, complained: "I don't know about other places, but Hung Loc is suffering terribly from environmental pollution. Every time we go to the fields, we have to endure itching from the dirty water..." According to Mr. Vo Hong Anh, the head of My Thuong hamlet, pollution from the cemetery is a serious health concern for the residents. Whenever cemetery workers burn garbage, the smoke and dust from the coffins and other belongings are extremely unpleasant. Or, during the rainy season and floods, the foul smell from improper burial practices rises with the floodwaters, causing everyone concern and worry. Furthermore, despite strict bans on scattering paper offerings by the village, commune, and city authorities, this practice still occurs frequently. Paper offerings are still scattered everywhere during funerals, not only on roads and in fields but also into people's gardens and homes. Residents have repeatedly raised these issues at community meetings and with representatives of the People's Council at all levels, but they remain unresolved...

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Loc commune, there are four clusters with environmental problems: the residential cluster adjacent to the Provincial General Hospital, the residential cluster near the Hung Loc Small Industrial Zone, the residential cluster near Military Hospital 4, and the residential cluster near the Hung Loc cemetery. Of these, the pollution in the Hung Loc Small Industrial Zone is the most concerning. The commune has held meetings with companies in the small industrial zone, demanding immediate action to address existing shortcomings that cause environmental pollution. These include excessively low chimneys, inadequate wastewater treatment systems, and collapsed drainage ditches. While the commune and businesses acknowledge their responsibility to the people, no timely corrective measures have been taken. The commune has also reported the pollution caused by the industrial cluster and the hospital cemetery to higher authorities for appropriate action, but resolving the issue seems extremely difficult.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Ha, the difficulties in addressing environmental pollution have caused Hung Loc commune to lag behind in achieving its goals under the National Target Program for Building New Rural Areas. Although not designated as a pilot commune, Hung Loc has so far achieved 16 out of 19 new rural area criteria. With the remaining three criteria – cultural infrastructure, irrigation, and environment – ​​Hung Loc commune aims to complete them by 2014-2015, but this is highly unlikely to be a reality. "Certainly, in 2014, Hung Loc will complete the two criteria of cultural infrastructure and irrigation. However, the environmental criterion is beyond our capabilities. Hung Loc earnestly hopes for attention and resolution from higher authorities, both to alleviate the suffering of the people and to help the commune complete the National Target Program for Building New Rural Areas..."

Nhat Lan