Gov’t requests chemical factories to move away from residential areas

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said that in the short-term, Hanoi People’s Committee ought to help the light bulb factory of Rang Dong Company to gradually restore production but in the long-term, the authorities of the capital city should move the factory and other chemical factories out of urban and residential areas according to the environment law.

Rang Dong fire (Photo: SGGP)
Rang Dong fire (Photo: SGGP)
Standing Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung have made the statement at a recent conference on a huge blaze in the Rang Dong Light Source & Vacuum Flask causing a large amount of harmful mercury to be released into the environment in the end of August.
After the conference, the office of the Government has issued deputy prime ministers’ conclusion. In their conclusion, Deputy PMs ordered the Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee to liaise with competent agencies to verify the level of pollution, area of pollution, cause of the fire, responsibilities of those involving as well as solutions to remedy the incident.
Additionally, Hanoi authority and relevant agencies must continue monitoring environment quality. These agencies must be all set for measures to cope with unexpected incident.
Moreover, authorities must keep an eye on residents’ health in the infected regions.
Hanoi People’s Committee and the Ministry of Information and Communications will publicize the precise information of the incident. It should work with the ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Health, Industry and Trade, Public Security, and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to issue specific measures for prevention of hygiene.
The two deputy prime ministers also asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to enhance management of chemical imports and use of chemicals as well as data of mercury content in bulb light of the Rang Dong Company.
The report of mercury and chemical used by the Rang Dong Company should be sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the People’s Committee.
The Ministry of Health and the People’s Committee together assess the scope and level of pollution which could harm people’s health. What is more, the two must have a healthcare plan to provide periodic medical checkup for residents.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment should continue to help Hanoi to collect and treat toxic wastes produced by the fire. Especially, the Ministry of Public Security ought to carry out investigation of the blaze cause and responsibilities of each individual and team to impose penalties on them.
Beforehand, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed Hanoi authority to work with relevant agencies to remedy environmental incident after the huge blaze in Rang Dong Light Source & Vacuum Flask as well as relocate polluters out of urbans and residential areas.
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