Attention to wastewater treatment systems in drug rehabilitation centers

(Baonghean) -Environmental pollution from social labor education facilities and detention camps is affecting the production and daily life of surrounding residents. The reason is that these facilities lack an environmental treatment system…

Wastewater from the Center for Social Work 1 pollutes the fields of Ngu Loc hamlet.

Hamlet 14, Hung Loc Commune (Vinh City) is the location of the Social Labor Education Center I. Recently, the drug rehabilitation and living activities of nearly 250 students have been directly discharging untreated water and waste into the environment, affecting the production and lives of people in the surrounding area. Mr. Doan Van Bien, in Hamlet 14, was upset: "All domestic waste and medical waste used for drug withdrawal and treatment for addicts are treated by the center by burning, causing air pollution for households living next to the center. As for wastewater, it is discharged directly into the canal leading to the fields of Ngu Loc Hamlet, causing serious pollution of the water source, making it impossible for people to cultivate."

The field in Ngu Loc hamlet has 5,000m²2 rice, and 3,000m²For the past 5 years, crops have not been able to be cultivated because the black water from the center's drainage system has been continuously discharged into this field. Mr. Pham Van Nuoi, ​​who has more than 3,000 square meters of abandoned fields here, said: "We have repeatedly petitioned the People's Councils at all levels through meetings with voters, but year after year, there has been no movement. When the sun rises, only this area is polluted, but when it rains, the black water flows to other areas. Anyone who goes to the fields will have sores on their hands and feet. We once blocked all the drainage systems in the center, but no one goes there."

The environmental pollution problem from the Social Labor Education Center I has been acknowledged by the city's leaders. The Vinh City People's Committee also issued Official Letter No. 1111/UBND - TNMT, dated April 9, 2012, regarding the implementation of environmental protection measures at the center, stating: The City People's Committee has repeatedly received petitions from voters of Hung Loc Commune reflecting that the Nghe An Social Labor Education Center I discharges wastewater causing environmental pollution. The environmental pollution problem caused by the center's wastewater discharge has been addressed by the Hung Loc Commune People's Committee in the past, but it has not been thoroughly resolved and people continue to petition.

Then, on November 30, 2012, Vinh City People's Committee issued Decision No. 7264/QD-UBND on inspecting the compliance with the law on environmental protection, water resources and land of Nghe An Social Labor Education Center I. According to Inspection Conclusion No. 07/KL-UBND dated January 9, 2013 of Vinh City People's Committee, the center did not have the procedures according to regulations on environmental protection. The center's wastewater affects the agricultural production activities of the people in Ngu Loc hamlet, Hung Loc commune.

At the same time, the collection and treatment of domestic and medical waste is not in accordance with environmental protection regulations. Vinh City People's Committee requested the center to urgently and actively submit to competent authorities for capital allocation to build wastewater drainage ditches, not to let wastewater overflow into the fields, and at the same time closely coordinate with Hung Loc Commune People's Committee in the process of implementing the construction of drainage ditches to completely resolve voters' petitions. For domestic waste, the center is required to contract with Nghe An Urban Environment One Member Co., Ltd. for collection and treatment. For hazardous medical waste, contract with functional units for treatment and destruction.

However, a year has passed since this document was issued, and the center has not yet completed the above requirements. Through discussions with Mr. Le Van Tien - Director of Nghe An Social Labor Education Center I, it is known that the center has built a project for a water and waste treatment system, but due to lack of funding, the project is still on paper. This means that environmental pollution will continue. The agency causing the pollution is passive, the state management agency is indifferent, because it has only stopped at inspection and supervision, so people can only "live with pollution". Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thuy - Head of Hamlet 14, Hung Loc Commune, is frustrated: "The inspection by the functional agencies has been carried out for a long time, but the problems that people are concerned about are still there."

Environmental pollution not only occurs at the Social Labor Education Center I but is also a common situation at the Social Labor Education Centers, temporary detention camps, and temporary detention camps in the province. According to the report of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, as of June 30, 2013, there were 6 Social Labor Education Centers and 1 Drug Addiction Post-Rehabilitation Management Center in the province that have come into operation. In the near future, the Provincial Post-Rehabilitation Management Center (located in Nghia Dan) and the Phuc Son Social Labor Education Center (Anh Son) will come into operation. Through the survey of drug addiction treatment and post-rehabilitation management in the province, the Provincial People's Council's Legal Committee has also clearly seen this issue and has recommended that the Provincial People's Committee study and allocate funding to support investment in the construction of waste and domestic water treatment systems at the Provincial Social Labor Education Center I, Vinh City Social Labor Education Center, etc., to ensure the living and learning environment of cadres, students and local people.

Thanh Nga