Environmental pollution treatment at the slag dump area of ​​the BOT Thermal Power Plant has not been completed yet.

Dust has just decreased.

Over the past 2 years, people living around the slag dump and slag conveyor belt of the BOT Thermal Power Plant in Kinh Mon have repeatedly expressed their frustration and complained to local authorities and functional agencies about the ash and slag transportation activities, which generate noise and dust, affecting people's daily lives. Especially at times when the factory's slag conveyor belt is broken, the transportation of ash and slag by car causes a lot of dust to fly.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Jaks Hai Duong Power Company Limited (the investor of the BOT Thermal Power Plant project) has had its environmental impact assessment reports approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and granted an environmental license. The company has invested in installing 21 bag dust filters at the ash and slag discharge system at the bottom of the boiler of both units, 1 fabric bag dust filter system at the ash and slag discharge tower; noise-proof partition system; installed an additional water spray system around the structure of the ash and slag discharge station from the pipe conveyor to the transport vehicle at the slag disposal site, etc.

Mr. Hoang Van Thuc, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said that, implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with the People's Committee of Kinh Mon town, the People's Committees of Quang Thanh and Le Ninh communes and representatives of residential areas near the slag disposal area to survey and monitor the environment around the residential area. The results of environmental monitoring at points in the residential area of ​​Lau Dong village, Quang Thanh commune; Tien Xa village, Le Ninh commune and points about 100m and 200m away from the slag discharge point downwind showed that at these points, the parameters basically met the permitted environmental standards. However, at the monitoring location downwind and the noise in the residential area at times exceeded the permitted environmental standards. The Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment requested the company to have solutions to overcome the situation. After that, Jaks Hai Duong Power Company Limited reviewed and supplemented solutions to minimize noise and dust.

Mr. Luong Van Chien, Party Cell Secretary and Head of Lau Dong Village, Quang Thanh Commune, said that for nearly 2 months now, dust and noise have decreased compared to before. However, there are still dozens of trucks transporting ash and slag every day. Although these trucks are covered with tarpaulins and water is sprinkled on the road, it is still inevitable that fine dust will be released into the air.

According to Mr. Tran Trung Kien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Le Ninh Commune, fine dust and noise from the slag dump and slag conveyor belt have the greatest impact on households in Tien Xa Village, especially the more than 70 households living around and near the construction site. Although the dust has recently lessened, residents are still worried that in the long term it will affect their health, water sources and quality of life.

Legitimate aspirations of the people

According to the People's Committee of Kinh Mon town, the locality has repeatedly received opinions from people and voters who are not within the land acquisition scope of the BOT Thermal Power Plant project but are located next to the slag dump area and slag conveyor belt in Quang Thanh and Le Ninh communes, reflecting on the negative impact of the slag dump and slag conveyor belt on daily life, especially during dry weather. Ash dust from the slag dump area is blown into residential areas by the wind, and the long-term accumulation process poses a risk of polluting surface water, groundwater and the soil environment.

In 2019, when constructing the slag dump, the land had to be reclaimed, including spiritual works and some public works such as cultural houses and kindergartens, to hand over to investors. The remaining households were no longer fully guaranteed the essential conditions for spiritual life as before.

The Provincial People's Committee has held many meetings around the issues of the Hai Duong BOT Thermal Power Plant project. Most recently, in early November, the Provincial People's Committee directed relevant departments, branches and localities to review and assess the impact and influence of the construction and operation of the slag dump and slag conveyor belt on the environment, life and activities of households near the slag dump and advise the province on a solution.

After synthesizing opinions from departments, branches, and localities, the Department of Industry and Trade synthesized and proposed that the Provincial People's Committee continue to issue a document recommending the Ministry of Industry and Trade to advise the Prime Minister and instruct relevant units to include the area of ​​5.7 hectares of 148 households within the project boundary and adjust related contracts with Jaks Hai Duong Electricity Company Limited.

Through the reporter's investigation, in the long term, it is very necessary to move households located between the slag conveyor belt and the slag dump in Tien Xa village, Le Ninh commune and Lau Dong village, Quang Thanh commune to new residences.