VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities have found hundreds of casks containing pesticide and contaminated soil on the grounds the Nicotex Thai Thanh Pesticide JSC in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

Unlabelling drums containing chemicals in the campus of Nicotex Thai Thanh JSC.

Nearly 1,000 tons of chemicals and contaminated soil are detected in the campus of this firm.

"From July 7, 2013 to February 15 2014, the authorities discovered about 950 tons of waste and contaminated soil buried on the company’s campus, including 240 tons of heavily polluted waste," says Mr. Nguyen Thuong Hien, Deputy Director of the Waste Management and Environmental Improvement Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Hien says that Nicotex Thanh Thai has treated approximately 150 tons of heavily polluted waste. The rest, along with more than 700 tons of less polluted tons of waste will be treated in the coming time. The company must cover the cost of treatment.

The official adds that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment views this incident as a very serious case.

Mentioning the information that local people have detected more areas where Nicotex Thanh Thai buried toxic waste, Hien says that the Ministry has not been informed about it.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha says he promises to verify the information.

Le Ha