People set up tents to guard pollution: Factory suddenly asks to resume operations

(Dan Tri) - The authorities have not yet concluded how to handle the violation, people are still setting up tents to guard against pollution, however, the Elmaco cassava starch export factory suddenly asked to resume operations, making people worried.

On January 14, a representative of the Department of Environment and Islands, Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ninh Binh province, said that until now, there have been no results of analysis of test samples taken from Elmaco Cassava Starch Export Factory (Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh).

Elmaco Cassava Starch Export Factory Area (Photo: Thai Ba).

Previously, the inspection team of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ninh Binh province coordinated with the relevant agencies to inspect the compliance with environmental protection laws at the Elmaco Cassava Starch Export Factory. The inspection team took samples and sent them for analysis more than a month ago.

The leader of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ninh Binh province said that the authorities discovered a large amount of waste from cassava materials buried illegally in several locations within the factory premises.

"The inspection team has taken samples and analyzed the factory's environment and collected samples of domestic water from some houses and neighboring areas to analyze and evaluate the indicators. Some indicators are still waiting for analysis results, so there is no conclusion on violations and handling measures yet," said the leader of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ninh Binh province.

People have set up tents to watch the operation of the cassava starch factory for over a month (Photo: Thai Ba).

While the authorities have not yet concluded or taken measures to handle the violations, recently on January 8, Elmaco Cassava Starch Export Factory suddenly sent a document to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ninh Binh province and the People's Committee of Nho Quan district requesting to resume operations. This made the people extremely worried.

Mr. Le Van Minh, Head of Xat village, Phuc Son commune (merged Son Lai commune and Son Ha commune), said that for more than a month now, people have been setting up tents near the factory gate and arranging people to be on duty 24/7 to prevent the factory from importing raw materials for production.

"People in Xat and Me villages hope that the authorities will soon have a conclusion and take measures to handle the factory's violations of environmental protection laws, so that people can live in peace," said Mr. Minh.

Dozens of households protested to the end against the tapioca starch factory's pollution (Photo: Thai Ba).

Speaking to the press, the leader of the People's Committee of Nho Quan district said that the Elmaco cassava starch export factory cannot yet go into operation because the inspection team has not yet reached a conclusion.

"When the inspection team has specific conclusions about the factory's violations, it must be handled and required to be corrected, then consider resuming operations," informed the leader of Nho Quan District People's Committee.

Previously, Dan Tri newspaper reported that at the end of November 2024, hundreds of households in Son Lai commune (now Phuc Son commune), Nho Quan district set up tents to protest the environmental pollution caused by Elmaco cassava starch export factory.

During the production process, this factory emitted a strong stench that made people unable to bear. In addition, people also discovered that this factory buried waste after production within the premises, and discharged wastewater into irrigation canals for people's production.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/vu-dan-dung-leu-canh-o-nhiem-nha-may-bat-ngo-xin-hoat-dong-tro-lai-20250114081816565.htm