VietNamNet Bridge - Many waste treatment plants, which are used to prevent pollution, have made the problem worse in some localities.

 

Many waste treatment plants, which are used to prevent pollution, have made the problem worse in some localities.

Local authorities are willing to spend multi-billions of dong to build waste treatment plants, vowing to stop pollution in their localities. 

However, for many reasons, many plants still cannot be put into operation, while others have made pollution more serious.

Lam Dong province’s residents in the past were impatient because the project on the solid waste treatment plant, with hundreds of billions of dong in investment, went too slowly. 

They now wish the plant had not been built, because the polluting plant now causes them to suffer.

Under the investment license, the investor built the plant within three years, from 2010 to 2012, but it only could become operational in mid-2015. However, when reporters visited the plant in late January, they only saw empty workshops.

For many reasons, many plants still cannot be put into operation, while others have made pollution more serious.

Tran Uyen Dien, deputy director of the Green Energy & Environment Company, the investor said a machine broke, and the plant had to halt operation, while workers stayed at home. 

When asked why the plant caused pollution as locals complained, Dien said the waste water from the waste carrying trucks dropped into the road, thus producing bad odor. 

Meanwhile, the odor was not as bad inside the plant as the waste was sprayed with deodorant.

Regarding the ‘fresh untreated waste’ left in the plant, Dien said he was not sure about the volume, but estimated there were 200-300 tons.

However, reporters believe the volume of waste left untreated in the plant was much higher. 

A waste storehouse with capacity of 300-400 tons was seen full of garbage which attracted flies.

Besides, there were also piles of garbage which were only preliminarily treated. T

The waste still could not be cleared from the plant because it still needed a final treatment. This was because of lack of capital. 

The plant was initially planned to be built with investment capital of VND381 billion, but only 50 percent has been disbursed. 

An officer of the plant said the environment police once inspected the plant and warned that the garbage may flow into the hills in the rainy season.

Local residents in Da Nang City are upset about having to live near a waste treatment plant. 

The dumping ground, covering an area of 48 hectares, is located in Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, just 8 kilometers far from the Da Nang City’s center.

It is estimated that 1,000 tons of waste is brought to Khanh Son Hamlet for treatment, which causes serious pollution to the locality. Meanwhile, many locals, living on waste collection, prevent trucks from carrying waste to three local treatment plants.

Phap Luat