MSG manufacturer Vedan Viet Nam has agreed in principle to the findings of a technical report but continues to haggle over the extent of its responsibility . . .

During a meeting with Environment Agency (of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) and local officials on December 12, Vedan representatives signed a minute of a December 7 meeting on the technical findings. Reportedly, Vedan admitted that discharges from its monosodium glutamate seasoning plant heavily polluted the river’s main waterway, but denied polluting the river’s branches and areas in the river’s basin.

Vedan General Director Yang Kun Hsiang was quoted by Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper as insisting that the Taiwanese firm bore responsibility for only 60 to 70 per cent of the river’s pollution.

At stake is hundreds of billions of dong in compensation to be paid to fish farmers and fishermen who get their livelihoods from the Thi Vai. In November, Vedan paid more than 127 billion dong (US$6 million) to Dong Nai Province’s Natural Resources and Environment department for violating State regulations and causing environmental damage.

Environment Agency officials are confident that the Institute’s analysis is irrefutable. “We collected detailed numbers on this case, month by month, and will refine them specifically in the next few weeks to convince Vedan,” said Luong Duy Hanh, deputy chief inspector of the Environment Agency.

Professor Dr Le Quoc Hung of the Viet Nam Institute for Sciences and Technology said water quality examined in November in the river improved after Vedan stopped its release early this year.

Hsiang told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that Vedan will consider paying compensation to farmers after working with the Environmentl Agency to determine the level of pollution. It would then report to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

The ministry’s conclusion, according to Hsiang, will be the basis for estimating the financial loss of farmers and the compensation rate by Vedan.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News