Representatives of the affected farmers in HCM City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Dong Nai will discuss compensation with Taiwanese monosodium glutamate manufacturer, Vedan, who allegedly damaged the local residents’ cultivation lands with its untreated waste water.

Polluted Thi Vai River, Dong Nai Province.

Vedan, based in Dong Nai Province, was caught red-handed last September dumping untreated effluents into the Thi Vai River.

It was allegedly releasing more than 5,000cu.m of untreated waste water daily through concealed underground pipes.

Around 7,000 farmers along the Thi Vai River have demanded compensation, claiming their farms, mostly aquaculture, have been devastated by untreated waste water Vedan had dumped into the river. But the company said it would discuss the issue if they authorise representatives.

Nguyen Van Phung, vice-chairman of the HCM City Farmers’ Association (FA), said on Wednesday the organisation has already authorised the Can Gio District association to represent over 1,000 farmers.

In Can Gio 1,824 have filed complaints out of whom 1,000 are reported to have evidence.

The Ba Ria-Vung Tau farmers association said petitions from more than 2,000 farmers and other residents have been forwarded to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and other agencies to help estimate the financial loss caused by Vedan’s action.

The department would help prove the action has harmed aquaculture and collect enough evidence to sue the company, it added.

In Dong Nai Province, over 4,000 farmers have demanded recompense but the local FA has yet to advise farmers on how to lodge a complaint or sue.

VietNamNet/VNS