Locals protest against dumping site, block garbage trucks

March 03, 2017 - 15:25

Residents of Lộc Thủy Commune in central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province are blocking garbage trucks from entering a local waste treatment plant, saying that it has severely polluted the neighbourhood.

Stagnant water from Lộc Thủy solid waste treatment area’s dumping site pollutes the surrounding areas in central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province. -- Photo dantri.com.vn
Viet Nam News

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — Residents of Lộc Thủy Commune in central Thừa Thiên-Huế Province are blocking garbage trucks from entering a local waste treatment plant, saying that it has severely polluted the neighbourhood.

Residents alleged that they are plagued by flies, there’s garbage lying scattered on the roads, and the stench emanating from the plant has made it almost impossible to live in the surrounding areas. The plant had a serious impact on the environment, they said on Thursday.

Since early this year, the number of garbage trucks entering Huế Urban Environment and Public Works State Co. Ltd. (HEPCO) to go to the Lộc Thủy solid waste treatment area has increased significantly to several tens of trucks per day.

Nguyễn Thị Nguyệt, 43, a resident of Lộc Thủy Commune, said she and other residents found the stench unbearable, especially during meal times. The dumping site also polluted the surrounding rice fields and she had skin reactions when she worked in the fields, she said.

Residents had approached the local authority to resolve the issue, but the situation had not improved, Nguyệt said.

Trần Văn Hữu, Chairman of the Commune’s People’s Committee, said the committee organised a dialogue between locals and the company’s representatives on February 27 to solve the problem. The committee asked residents to stop blocking the garbage trucks and promised to work with the company to improve the situation quickly.

The US$3.42 million Lộc Thủy solid waste treatment area began operations in 2011. It has been built to collect garbage from 18 communes and towns in Phú Lộc District and its daily capacity is 135 tonnes of garbage. — VNS

 

E-paper