Deputy PM Asks Hoa Binh to Address Pollution

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has told northern Hoa Binh Province's People's Committee to inspect Doc Bung rubbish dump and submit a plan on overcoming the pollution it produces. Hai gave the People's Committee until December 30 to come up with a solution. The move came after VTV1 reported on November 20 that the rubbish dump, located in Tan Hoa Ward, had polluted the surrounding environment, including the Da River. The dump has discharged dozens of cubic meters of waste water into the river daily for the last decade, causing growing concerns, according to the television station. Throughout this period, Vinaconex Water Supply Joint Stock Co's Da has been processing the river water and reticulating it to thousands of Hanoians as tap water. Last week, however, a Vinaconex representative said the Hanoi tap water it provides meets all quality standards. He said the dump was 15km from where the plant took raw river water and treated it, so any effect from the rubbish dump was trivial. (Vietnam News Dec 5)