VietNamNet Bridge – It took residents a long time to obtain permission from Khanh Hoa provincial authorities to remove nearly 100 polluting brick kilns from their area, but it will take even longer to actually implement the decision.

Most of the brick kilns are located in Ninh Xuan Commune and Ninh Hoa Town, along Highway No 26 which links Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak Province. They churn out tens of millions of bricks every year which are the main source of income of local people.

The local authorities admitted that it still does not know what to do to stop the operation of the 100 kilns which have been causing serious environmental pollution over many years.

Those who have  traveled on Highway No 26, or the “road of brick kilns”, all said the air in the area was covered with a thick layer of smoke and dust.

A local resident in Ninh Xuan Commune said only brick kilns can exist in the area. Meanwhile, plants are withering, humans are exhausted and other creatures cannot live.

“Black and white smoke has been attacking us every day, suffocating us. The plants in my garden cannot grow, the vegetable fields are deserted,” said Pham Thi Lan, a local resident.

“The brick kilns have brought many things to us, including respiratory and skin diseases,” he continued. “The biggest sufferers are the students of Ly Thuong  Kiet Secondary School nearby. They study while coughing all the time.”

The school is surrounded by more than 10 brick kilns. The  teachers and students of the school have no other choice than breathe the smoke and dust from the kilns.

Nguyen Trinh, chair of Ninh Xuan Commune People’s Committee, admitted that the school’s board of management had repeatedly complained about pollution, saying that they could not work in such a polluted environment.

“We have told 14 brick kilns to stop operation. But  only seven have obeyed the instruction, while the other seven still keep operating,” Trinh said.

Only in late 2013 did the Khanh Hoa provincial people’s committee release a decision on stopping the brick production with outdated technology and removing the existing brick kilns in Ninh Hoa Town, stating that the work must be completed by June 2014.

However, the instruction cannot be implemented as scheduled. Ninh Hoa’s people and authorities still do not know what they need to do to implement the instruction.

Le Van Hai, the owner of a brick kiln in Ninh Xuan Commune, said she was informed by the provincial authorities about shutting down the brick kiln in April 2014, which means that he has only two months to prepare.

“We have been preparing for the production plan for the whole year. We have stored fuel and earth for many months of use, worth billions of dong. What should we do with the stored materials?” he said.

Ngo Thi Tuyet in Phuoc Lam Hamlet said her family members have been making bricks since 1995. It would be difficult for them to shift to another kind of undertaking. Tuyet said she cannot close her brick kiln until she gets support from the State and local authorities.

NLD/VNN