From the stench downstream, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant discovered a giant floating garbage dump upstream of Nam Non.
(Baonghean.vn) - Tuong Duong District and Ban Ve Hydropower Company coordinated to inspect the reservoir area and determined that there was a lot of garbage floating on the surface of the Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir, in some places covering the entire width of the reservoir, stretching over 1 km.
The inspection of the Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir was carried out by the People's Committee of Tuong Duong District and the Ban Ve Hydropower Company on January 16, 2020. The inspection determined that there was a lot of floating garbage in the reservoir. The main components were tree trunks, bamboo, and household waste.
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| Officials of Tuong Duong District People's Committee and Ban Ve Hydropower Company check for otters in the Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir. Photo: Contributor |
Garbage is concentrated in 2 locations, including: At the tail of the lake (Ban Ve Hydropower Dam is about 60 - 79 km away) depending on the water level of the hydropower reservoir, at the time of inspection, there was garbage stretching about 1 km, densely covering the entire lake. In the lake area (from Huu Khuong commune to Mai Son commune) from the current lake water level to elevation 200, there was a lot of garbage, mainly mixed wood, bamboo, and reed clinging to the shore.
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| The area with dense garbage covering the width of the lake bed is identified as the tail of the lake, upstream of Nam Non river, in My Ly commune (Ky Son district). Photo: Contributor |
Regarding the cause of the garbage, in Report No. 16/UBND dated January 22, 2020 on checking the current status of garbage in Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir, Tuong Duong District People's Committee stated that "most of this garbage was caused by the big flood that occurred in August 2019, washed from upstream".
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| Residential village in My Ly commune near the garbage collection site. Photo: Contributor |
The People's Committee of Tuong Duong district assessed that the dense garbage covering the entire width of the reservoir, stretching over 1 km, has caused traffic congestion on waterways and rescue routes in the area. The garbage has been accumulated for a long time in the reservoir, decomposing and causing a foul smell in the villages along the reservoir. This has caused negative public opinion about the hydropower project.
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| Report of Tuong Duong District People's Committee. Photo: Contributor |
Because from December 26, 2019 to January 10, 2020, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district discovered a change in water color and a foul smell downstream of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant when the plant discharged water to generate electricity. In Report No. 16/UB-UBND, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district proposed that the Provincial People's Committee direct relevant departments, branches and the Electricity Corporation to soon have a long-term treatment plan.
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| Garbage not only floats on the surface of the lake but also accumulates on both sides of the lake. Photo: Contributor |
About the stench downstreamBan Ve Hydropower Plant, Nghe An Newspaper reporter was confirmed on January 8, 2020 when working with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Tuong Duong district at the foot of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant dam. On that day, the water in this area was blue, clear, but had an unpleasant odor. This incident was later reported by Nghe An Electronic Newspaper in the article "Water downstream of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant has a "strange odor".