Waste water discharged by Thuận Phát Đắk Nông Commerce and Service one-member Ltd.co spills over the Provincial Road No 1 which crosses through Quảng Tân Commune in Central Highlands Province of Đắk Nông. — VNA/VNS Hưng Thịnh

ĐẮK NÔNG — Residents from Quảng Tân Commune in Central Highlands Province of Đắk Nông claimed their lives are being affected by a passion fruit processing facility in the region.

They said that while Thuận Phát Đắk Nông Commerce and Service Co Ltd, despite collecting and processing large amounts of passion, didn’t install a waste water treatment. All the waste is discharged directly to a big hole inside the facility.

The large amount of waste together with the prolonged rainy weather has spilled over the Provincial Road No 1 and gone into some houses, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Vũ Đình Thiết, a resident of Quảng Tân Commune, said the foul smell had seriously affected their lives.

Local residents have met with representatives from the company, requesting their environmental pollution activities should be stopped.  The representatives have agreed to suspend the operation but the situation has not been improved.

Last Thursday (August 15), the residents have sent a letter to the commune’s People’s Committee, asking local authority to settle the incident and strictly deal with violations.

Nguyễn Văn Quế, chairman of Quảng Tân Commune People’s Committee, said after receiving complaints, an inspection team has been sent to examine the scene and a report on the issue would be submitted to district authorities in accordance with the State regulations.

Vũ Văn Khỏe, director of Thuận Phát Đắk Nông Commerce and Service one-member Co Ltd told inspectors the company hasn’t made a report on environmental impact and pledged to finish all necessary legal documents within one month.

He also said the company would solve the problem and not let the sewage affect the surrounding environment. — VNS