Sections of Vedan Vietnam’s untreated wastewater discharge system in a photo taken in September 2008.

The administration, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), Wednesday told the people’s committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces to complete the report by July 10.

The localities will have to evaluate the value of the property, farmland and fishing waters damaged or destroyed by the toxic waste. They will also have to account for the harmful environmental impacts the pollution has had on the ecosystem in the Thi Vai River, where the Taiwanese MSG maker’s Dong Nai plant had illegally discharged untreated water for 14 years.

The reports will be the basis on which residents may demand compensation from Vedan if the company and its accusers can’t reach a compensation agreement on their own, according to the administration.

Local authorities first discovered Vedan illegally dumping the waste in the Thi Vai River last September. But investigations by Dong Nai environmental authorities and inspectors from several departments quickly revealed the practice had been going on for the previous 14 years and that the MSG plant had been contaminating the river with up to 105.6 million liters of untreated wastewater per month. The toxic water killed local farmers’ fish and shrimp and ruined farmland along the banks of the river.

The MoNRE suspended the plant’s wastewater discharge license and fined the company VND267.5 million (current US$15,030) in November last year. The ministry also demanded VND127 billion (current $7.14 million) from the company in overdue environmental fees. The company has paid the first fine and agreed to pay the fees in three installments, the first of which has been paid.

Last month, the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Association asked Vedan Vietnam for VND569 billion ($31.970 million) as financial support to farmers, more than 50 percent less than the initial demand of VND1.2 trillion ($67.4 million) made by farmers from three affected localities.

The association made the suggestion at a meeting between leaders of farmers associations from HCMC, Dong Nai and Ba RiaVung Tau provinces and representatives of the Taiwanese MSG-maker.

The three associations said they had received nearly 10,920 letters demanding legal action against Vedan and asking for some VND600 billion ($33.7 million) in total compensation. They asked that the company gives its official answer to the requests this month.

VietNamNet/TN