Based on the residents’ feedback, reporters from the Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper were present at the cassava starch processing factory. The closer we got to the factory, the stronger the stench became.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Le Cong Van - Deputy Director of the cassava starch processing factory of Binh Phuoc General Import-Export Joint Stock Company said: The factory is running a trial run with a capacity of 100 tons of fresh cassava roots/day. Because it is a trial run, the amount of wastewater is not much. Currently, the wastewater has not filled the first lake of the cigar system of the factory under construction. This lake has been covered with a tarpaulin so there will be no foul odor emitted into the environment. When the reporter asked: "So, where does this foul odor come from when the factory area has a very strong odor?", Mr. Le Cong Van could not explain.
Taking reporters to find out the reality, and at the same time introducing the wastewater treatment system of the cassava starch processing factory under construction, Mr. Le Cong Van affirmed that the wastewater has not filled the first lake. However, according to the reporter's observation, in the cigar wastewater treatment system of the factory, there are signs that the wastewater has leaked into the treatment lakes under construction, stagnating into large puddles. It is likely that the smell was coming from here.
Mr. Le Cong Van explained: Last Saturday (October 8, 2016), he went to meet voters in Krong A commune, M'Drak district, but did not see any complaints from the people about the company's cassava starch factory causing bad odors. However, during a working trip to Krong A commune, M'Drak district, Dak Lak province (Wednesday, October 12), the reporter received many complaints about the bad odors coming from the factory that have been affecting the lives of the people around. Many local people said: “It is a good thing that businesses come to invest in the area to create jobs, increase income for workers, especially consume cassava raw materials for local people and generate revenue for the local budget. However, production must be associated with environmental protection and cannot be ignored, and people cannot be allowed to live in an environment polluted by the stench. We recommend that the authorities and local authorities of Dak Lak province promptly inspect, urge and remind factory leaders to immediately remedy this situation to restore fresh air to the people”. We would like to forward the above request of the people of Krong A commune, M’Drak district to the authorities of Dak Lak province./.