VietNamNet Bridge – Sewage treatment has become a serious issue for residents in Ha Noi's Chuong My District despite several temporary projects to deal with the issue during the last three years.

Just 500 metres away, another dump for Dai Yen Commune is in a similar mess. Like in many towns, rubbish heaps are encroaching on adjacent roads.—Photo dantri

In many localities, indiscriminate dumping of garbage has created health and environmental problems for residents. People living around the dumping ground outside Chuc Son Town have long complained about the putrid mess and terrible stink.

Just 500 metres away, another dump for Dai Yen Commune is in a similar mess. Like in many towns, rubbish heaps are encroaching on adjacent roads.

"This dump is also the home of hundreds of mice which are always damaging the rice crop," Duong Thi Tam, head of the commune's farmers association told Kinh te&Do thi (Economy and Urban Affairs) newspaper.

"In addition, as the dump is located near Trai and Duong communes, it also affects lives of residents in the area," she said.

Talks to solve the problem have been held many times, but so far nothing has been achieved, Tam said.

In other areas of the district, such as Dong Phuong Yen and Dong Son communes, sewage is disposed on open ground, creating an urgent need for treatment plant.

According to deputy chairman of the district people's committee, Do Hong Quang, most dumps in the district are not managed or treated with chemicals.

A project to form temporary rubbish dumps has been carried out in the district since 2009.

So far, 37 temporary sites have been constructed, fulfilling 74 per cent of the district's initial target

However, some communes still show a lack of responsibility in implementing the project.

For instance, at the beginning of 2012, Tien Phuong Commune was given VND650 million (US$31,000) to build a temporary dumping site of 800 square metre in area.

Local residents raised objections to the dump, which had not gone ahead. This was a waste of State budget money, said Quang.

Temporary dumping sites, which are only holes lined with waterproof material, have shortcomings, according to Nguyen Minh Ngoc, head of the district department of natural resources and environment.

The department suggested the district construct dumping grounds with concrete walls.

Source: VNS