The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has rejected a proposal to sink nearly one million cubic meters of sand and mud into waters off the coast of Binh Thuan Province, Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper reports.

Binh Thuan and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has sent the proposal, prepared by the investor of Vinh Tan 3 Thermal Power Plant, to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consideration.

The plant operator also presented an amended environmental impact assessment report for discharging around one million cubic meters of sand, mud and other sediments into an area of 300 hectares in Vinh Tan Sea, six kilometers from Hon Cau Marine Protected Area.

On June 8, the agriculture ministry said in response to the proposal that the location proposed for dumping waste fails to meet the requirements provided in the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment.

The agriculture ministry explains that the location is adjacent to Hon Cau Marine Protected Area, so dumping any waste could leave adverse effects on the environment and marine ecosystem in the area.

The ministry also urged the investor to come up with other disposal plans instead of sinking waste into the sea.

SGT