LookAtVietnam – A cassava starch processing factory, run by Taiwanese company Vedan in the north-central province of Ha Tinh, was shut down after inspectors found it was polluting the Rao Tro River.

The inspection team had pointed out some violations of environmental regulations in its first investigation on March 24 but the factory had failed to complete all of its wastewater systems before it began trial operations in February. (Photo: VNN)

Inspectors say the factory was causing severe environmental pollution because it had not built a proper wastewater treatment system; there were leaks in one of two wastewater storage pools pouring into Rao Tro River; diesel oil in cassava drying facilities were leaking out into the river; a mixture of rainwater and waste water from over 50 tonnes of cassava waste gathered in outdoor storage areas was flowing into a drain leading to the river.

Phan Thang Long, deputy director of the province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the factory has been asked to close down until it corrects these four violations.

Failed to act

Long said that the inspection team had pointed out some violations of environmental regulations in its first investigation on March 24 but the factory had failed to complete all of its wastewater systems before it began trial operations in February.

The factory was forced to collect 50 tonnes of cassava waste to put in three containers and prevent the wastewater and oil leaks with sandbags, said Nguyen Minh Thuong of the environmental police department.

An area with stinking water covered with thick scum on the banks of the river has been cleaned, Minh added.

Truong Vinh Chu, director of the factory, has admitted to the charges and committed to install the factory’s wastewater treatment systems before July.

The Taiwanese-invested factory plans to officially begin operating in November, with a capacity of 800 tonnes of cassava starch per day. Vedan has already gained notoriety as a river polluter. Its MSG-plant in the southern province of Dong Nai was recently found using underground pipes to dump untreated wastewater into the Thi Vai River for more than 15 years.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

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