Carpentry workshop 'tortures' people for more than 10 years with PU paint smell

(Baonghean) -For over 10 years, Duc Duy carpentry workshop (Hamlet 20, Nghi Phu Commune, Vinh City) has been spraying PU paint, causing environmental pollution and affecting people's lives, but has not been completely handled.

Nghe An Newspaper received a complaint from many households in Hamlet 20, Nghi Phu Commune (Vinh City) about the pollution caused by the PU paint of Duc Duy Company Limited. In the complaint, the households said: This situation has lasted for more than 10 years. We have written many complaints but there has been no change; the strong paint smell spreads everywhere, affecting people's health.

The carpentry workshop of Duc Duy Fine Art Wood Products Production Company Limited is located in a residential area.

Mr. Tran Vu Bao, resident of Hamlet 20, Nghi Phu Commune, representative of the petitioning households, said: Duc Duy carpentry workshop has been operating since 2003. In 2005, the households submitted a petition to the Vinh City People's Committee to reflect the environmental pollution caused by the company, but to date the matter has not been resolved.

“In 2010, the city’s working group came to inspect and found our complaints to be correct. The government requested that the carpentry workshop be moved out of the residential area, but we waited for a long time and saw no movement,” said Mr. Bao.

Observing the reality, the carpentry workshop of Duc Duy Fine Art Furniture Production Company Limited is located right at the intersection, surrounded by houses and the headquarters of 2 units: the Provincial People's Court and Vinh International Hospital. Next to the carpentry workshop is the house of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thuong. Mr. Thuong said: Today when you came, they (Duc Duy carpentry workshop - PV) did not spray paint, but we are here all year round, always having to inhale this extremely toxic gas; the windows must always be tightly closed.

Over the past 10 years, people have repeatedly expressed their opinions in meetings and petitions, but the matter has not been resolved. In the petition signed by the households, Mr. Nguyen Van Than - Head of Hamlet 20 confirmed: The matter is exactly as the people reported. Mr. Tran Mien, Secretary of the Party Cell of Hamlet 20, Nghi Phu Commune said: The pollution caused by PU paint spraying at Duc Duy carpentry workshop has been going on for a long time. Therefore, I request the authorities at all levels as well as the relevant agencies to resolve it thoroughly to avoid future consequences.

The carpentry workshop is close to people's houses, the atmosphere caused by PU paint affects people's lives.

In 2010, after inspection and verification, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported to the Vinh City People's Committee. The report concluded: The reflection of some households in Hamlet 20, Nghi Phu Commune about the environmental pollution caused by the activities of the carpentry workshop of Duc Duy Fine Art Wood Products Production Company Limited was correct.

In addition, Duc Duy Fine Art Wood Products Production Company Limited built on residential land in Hamlet 20, Nghi Phu Commune, which is using the land for the wrong purpose and the company has not yet completed legal procedures on environmental protection for the woodworking workshop. Based on the report of the inspection team, Vinh City People's Committee requested Duc Duy Fine Art Wood Products Production Company Limited to contact the competent authority to complete procedures to apply for land lease and relocate the woodworking workshop to another location far from the residential area. The relocation time must be no later than September 30, 2010.

Vinh City People's Committee also assigned the Urban Inspectorate to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Nghi Phu Commune People's Committee to supervise the implementation of Duc Duy Fine Arts Wood Products Production Company Limited.

The leaders of Nghi Phu Commune People's Committee admitted that the reflection of the households in Hamlet 20 about the environmental pollution caused by Duc Duy Fine Art Wood Products Production Company Limited was correct. In 2010, after receiving the reflection of the people, the commune went down to work, the company committed to operating in an environmentally friendly manner. The commune coordinated with the city's inspection team and requested to suspend operations, but the company has not complied.

“In solving this problem, the commune still faces many difficulties, so the matter has not been completely resolved. Currently, Mr. Tran Duc Duy - the company owner has not completed the procedures to convert residential land to production and business land. Based on the people's feedback, in the near future, the commune will coordinate with the relevant agencies to completely resolve the matter, not letting the matter drag on, affecting the lives of the people", said Mr. Nguyen Van Toan - Vice Chairman of Nghi Phu Commune People's Committee (Vinh City).

Exhaust pipe of Duc Duy carpentry workshop.

It is known that on October 5, 2015, Vinh City People's Committee issued Decision No. 10920 to sanction the company for administrative violations in the field of environmental protection with a fine of 2.5 million VND. The reason for the sanction is that the company leaked and released exhaust gas, vapor, and toxic gas into the environment; did not have measures to cover noise and heat, causing negative impacts on the environment and people at Point B, Clause 1, Article 12 of Decree No. 179/2013/ND-CP of the Government.

Regarding the above incident, the staff of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that the city has not received the petition from the people. When receiving the petition from the people, it will advise the leaders of Vinh City People's Committee to check, if it is true as the people reflect, it will resolutely handle it strongly, and resolve the matter completely.

Nguyen Hung