ĐÀ NẴNG — Authorities in Đà Nẵng have asked for construction to be expedited on resettlement neighbourhoods for residents in the area around two polluting steel manufacturers.

According to Đà Nẵng People’s Committee, the city recently held talks with households in Vân Dương 2 village (of Hoà Liên Commune, Hoà Vang District) who suffered from pollution discharged by Dana-UC Steel JSC and Dana-Y Steel JSC. The two steel companies were ordered to halt operations last December, following complaints from residents in the area.

Affected households agreed with the decision to relocate them.

According to the plan, the first households to be relocated in the 4^th quarter are ones directly affected by the pollution, living near the boundaries of the two companies and their chimneys. The rest of the affected households in the vicinity will be relocated in the first few months of 2018.

The city People’s Committee has asked the two steel companies to each shoulder 50 per cent of the combined resettlement costs and compensation.

The steel plants were allowed to resume normal operations for the moment and the owners have no more than 15 years to figure out where to relocate the plants. During operations, the companies must implement greener technology to reduce pollution, then gradually transition to light industrial production which is less taxing on the environment.

The municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported that the two companies have carried out a number of measures to cut back on the gas and dust pollution. However, the report said these measures ‘are not enough,’ especially during heat waves.

Huỳnh Đức Thơ, chairman of Đà Nẵng City People’s Committee, asked the companies to put up with losses incurred while addressing pollution issues.

Last year, residents in Vân Dương 2 village reported the steel companies, saying they have illegally discharged untreated fumes, dust and wastewater into the environment in addition to burying slag. — VNS