Handling environmental pollution through "hotline" information

Through that, many environmental "hot spots" have been resolved, contributing to stabilizing public opinion and improving the quality of environmental protection in the province.

Addressing environmental complaints

In April 2023, many people in Cong Moi hamlet, Ngoc Lac village, Ngoc Son commune (Hai Duong city) reported a strong stench and a large number of flies at a processing facility using dirty raw materials, affecting the lives and health of people living nearby. Upon receiving the report, the Department of Environmental Protection (Department of Natural Resources and Environment) coordinated with the specialized agency of Hai Duong City People's Committee to verify the people's reports.

Verification shows that since the beginning of March 2023, Trung Anh HD Company Limited in Cong Moi hamlet has rented 600 m2 of land from Minh Huong Production, Trade and Service Company Limited to produce animal feed. The working group has coordinated to collect wastewater samples for analysis. The results show that some parameters exceed the permitted standards. Trung Anh HD Company Limited has been fined 336 million VND by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and forced to immediately suspend the violation.

About a year earlier, also in Ngoc Son commune, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment received information from local people and coordinated to handle the feedback about the Ha Hai concrete mixing station in Ngoc Son industrial cluster of Thanh Dong Trading Company Limited discharging wastewater directly into Ba Lieu-Trai Vuc canal, causing pollution. The Environmental Monitoring and Analysis Center (Department of Natural Resources and Environment) took wastewater samples at the discharge gate of the Ha Hai concrete mixing station for analysis. The results of the 5 analyzed wastewater parameters showed that 2 parameters exceeded the national standards for industrial wastewater. Through inspection, the authorities also determined that Thanh Dong Trading Company Limited did not properly implement some contents in the environmental protection plan confirmed by the Hai Duong City People's Committee.

In 2023, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has coordinated with the People's Committee of Cam Giang district many times to inspect and clarify the content of the reflection of citizens in Chua Vit hamlet, Phuc B village, Cam Phuc commune about the activities of some enterprises that generate unpleasant odors affecting people's lives. The inspection results showed that out of 8 enterprises operating in Phuc B village, 5 enterprises still violated environmental protection. Based on the results of the inspection and verification, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment initially fined 4 enterprises with a total amount of 113 million VND. At the same time, it required enterprises to review the entire production process and apply solutions to minimize the impact of emissions and odors on the environment.

After receiving information from people about Jaks Hai Duong Power Company Limited dumping waste in violation of regulations, ash and slag consumption activities generating dust affecting the environment, at the end of July 2023, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated to verify and clarify. After that, the Department reported and requested the Provincial People's Committee to request Jaks Hai Duong Power Company Limited to temporarily suspend the transportation and consumption of ash and slag by waterway. Coordinate with ash and slag transportation and consumption units to develop an environmental protection plan for ash and slag consumption activities and have plans and plans to implement solutions to minimize dust. Currently, the company has taken remedial measures to help minimize dust released into the environment.

Improve environmental protection quality

According to Ms. Le Thi Ha Anh, a resident of Cong Moi hamlet, Ngoc Son commune, after the residents reported the environmental pollution problem, the authorities came down to work and immediately resolved it. Up to now, this area no longer has strong odors or flies. The enterprise causing environmental pollution has stopped operating and moved elsewhere.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Hai Duong City, Thanh Dong Trading Company Limited has now corrected the violations and implemented the contents of the certified environmental protection plan. People no longer complain about environmental pollution caused by the operation of this company's concrete mixing station.

Mr. Hoang Van Thuc, Director of the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, affirmed that the information from the people has become a useful information channel for state management agencies on environmental pollution and environmental "hot spots" in the province. Through this, state management agencies can grasp, inspect, verify and have timely solutions, contributing to ensuring the stability of people's lives and improving the quality of environmental protection.

To promptly and thoroughly resolve feedback, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has arranged permanent staff to receive and process feedback, and at the same time issued a procedure for receiving, verifying, processing and responding to information on environmental pollution via the hotline number: 0220.3898051 and other channels.