Suspending operations of industrial cluster in 'billionaire village' in Bac Ninh

Requirements for ensuring fire prevention and fighting safety

The decision of Yen Phong District Police stated that, based on the actual situation, considering the direct risk of fire and explosion causing serious consequences at the Man Xa craft village industrial cluster (Van Mon commune) invested by Hanaka Group Joint Stock Company, the Chief of District Police decided to suspend the operation of this craft village industrial cluster.

According to the decision, the suspension period is from November 3, requiring Mr. Man Ngoc Anh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hanaka Group Joint Stock Company, to be responsible for implementing the decision and implementing requirements on ensuring fire prevention and fighting safety.

Coal slag, wastewater... are discharged directly into the environment in the Man Xa craft village industrial cluster.

However, according to VietNamNet reporters' observations during the day, all aluminum production and casting activities in the craft village industrial cluster are still taking place normally.

Explaining the issue of suspension of operations, the industrial cluster continued to produce, Mr. Bui Duc Thuyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Van Mon commune, said that although the decision to suspend operations took effect from November 3, the commune only received this decision on November 22.

"Immediately after receiving the decision to temporarily suspend the operation of the industrial park, we notified the production households. If any household deliberately produces, we will report to the authorities for strict handling," said Mr. Thuyen.

Production households in the industrial cluster dump burnt coal slag into the environment.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Le Duc Tho, Deputy Head of the Environmental Protection Department (Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Bac Ninh province) said that the unit is coordinating with the Department of Environmental Pollution Control (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) to monitor environmental protection for facilities and infrastructure investors in the Man Xa craft village industrial cluster.

"The monitoring team is responsible for periodically, thematically and suddenly inspecting and supervising the implementation of environmental protection work at the Man Xa craft village industrial cluster," said Mr. Tho.

In related developments, Yen Phong district is also reviewing activities in the Man Xa Craft Village Industrial Cluster Project.

Talking to VietNamNet reporter, Mr. Pham Duc Dinh, Deputy Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Yen Phong district, said that recently the district People's Committee has established a team to review activities in the Man Xa Craft Village Industrial Cluster Project.

The task of this Team is to inspect all contents related to the Man Xa craft village industrial cluster.

"Currently, we require the investor, Hanaka Group Joint Stock Company, to provide all documents related to this industrial park and review the companies that have built and are building here," said Mr. Dinh.

According to Mr. Pham Duc Dinh, the environmental pollution issue in Van Mon is of concern to all levels, and the locality also wants households to develop their economy but must ensure environmental protection.

"Early next December, we will report and propose to handle businesses and production households that do not meet the legal procedures...", Mr. Dinh said.

Man Xa Craft Village Industrial Cluster, Van Mon Commune has a planned area of 29.6 hectares, currently 26.54 hectares have been deployed and 3.5 hectares have been expanded.

For the 26.54 ha land area that has been deployed, the Provincial People's Committee has assigned 25.5 ha to Hanaka Group Joint Stock Company; the Company has built infrastructure reaching over 90%. The total number of planned lots is 666 lots (of which: 619 industrial land lots, 47 service land lots).

Wastewater from craft villages is 1.5 to 16 times higher than the permitted standard.

According to the results of the review and synthesis from the environmental monitoring system of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Bac Ninh province, the environmental pollution in Van Mon commune mainly arises from aluminum casting.

The results of monitoring the ambient air quality showed that the analytical indicators (noise, dust, SO2, NO2) all exceeded the permissible standards from 1.2 to 2.8 times.

Smoke and dust billowing at the aluminum recycling industrial cluster.

Regarding wastewater generated from daily life, livestock farming and production... it is not collected and treated. The results of surface water quality monitoring at the pond receiving wastewater from Man Xa craft village over the years show that the organic analysis indicators and heavy metals are 1.5 to 16 times higher than the permitted standards.

On average, each day, the amount of solid waste generated from production and business activities of the craft village is from 35 to 40 tons, mainly consisting of coal slag and aluminum slag.

Production facilities do not hire competent units to collect and treat the generated solid waste but instead dump it indiscriminately into the environment.

Source