Bac Giang City residents suffer because coal mines pollute the environment

Video: Bac Giang City residents “miserable” because coal mines pollute the environment

People cry for help because of pollution

Mr. Le Thai Hoat's family in Tan My village, Dong Son commune, Bac Giang city (Bac Giang) has lived for many years about 100m from the coal gathering site of Bac Giang Trading Joint Stock Company. Mr. Hoat said that in recent years, the transportation and exploitation of coal by this company in the Thuong river area has made people in Tan My village miserable because of environmental pollution from coal dust.

“In the dry season, hot sun and cold north wind blow up, causing fine dust from coal transportation to fly everywhere in the houses of people living about 100 - 200m away. Even though we clean and sweep the house every day, we still cannot remove all the dust from coal transportation,” Mr. Hoat said indignantly.

nguoi dan tp bac giang kho vi bai than gay o nhiem moi truong hinh anh 1 — Overview of the coal mining site of Bac Giang Trading Joint Stock Company

In addition, the large convoys of trucks operating in and out busily cause local residents to often "lose sleep and appetite". Even more dangerous is the movement of coal trucks on the dike, posing a potential traffic safety risk during peak hours when students and workers are leaving school and returning home from work.

“We have sent petitions and letters to the local authorities, concerned about the air pollution caused by coal dust and exhaust fumes. However, the situation has not been completely resolved yet,” Mr. Hoat informed.

nguoi dan tp bac giang kho vi bai than gay o nhiem moi truong hinh anh 2 — Mr. Le Thai Hoat in Tan My village, Dong Son commune, Bac Giang city pointed out the environmental pollution caused by coal mining activities.

nguoi dan tp bac giang kho vi bai than gay o nhiem moi truong hinh anh 3 — Coal dust falls heavily, creating thick layers of dirt on the roads, making it very difficult for people to travel and participate in traffic.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Chung in Tan My village, Dong Son commune (Bac Giang city), Mr. Hoat's wife, said that although the house and household items are cleaned regularly, every few hours they are covered with a thick layer of coal dust. They also do not dare to dry clothes outside. Plants, vegetables, and drinking water are also covered with coal dust.

“Our people have to live in fear and anxiety about their health. On hot days, the smell of chemicals mixed with coal dust and smoke drifts into residential areas, making our people miserable, especially the elderly and children who cannot stand the coal dust and air pollution,” said Ms. Chung.

nguoi dan tp bac giang kho vi bai than gay o nhiem moi truong hinh anh 4 — People in Tan My village point out air pollution due to coal dust

nguoi dan tp bac giang kho vi bai than gay o nhiem moi truong hinh anh 5 — Many large-tonnage coal transport convoys pose potential traffic safety risks.

Know but do not handle?

To clarify the above incident, speaking with reporters of Voice of Vietnam Electronic Newspaper, a representative of Bac Giang Trading Joint Stock Company confirmed that during the process of transporting and exploiting coal to provide fuel for factories operating in Bac Giang province, it caused environmental pollution to the surrounding area.

"Although watering and covering the area regularly is unavoidable during transportation and exploitation, dust is emitted, affecting the health of local residents," said a representative of Bac Giang Trading Joint Stock Company.

nguoi dan tp bac giang kho vi bai than gay o nhiem moi truong hinh anh 6 — Shipping area

nguoi dan tp bac giang kho vi bai than gay o nhiem moi truong hinh anh 7 — Wastewater from coal transportation and mining is "dumped" directly into the Thuong River.

In Decision No. 643 of the People's Committee of Bac Giang City on the announcement of inland waterway port operations for Bac Giang Trading Joint Stock Company, it is clearly stated that during the exploitation process, the provisions of the law on inland waterway traffic and other relevant legal provisions must be strictly complied with. But is this being "left open" by the unit, causing people to suffer because of environmental pollution from coal dust?