During operation, the wastewater reservoir in the pig farm of Green Farm Asia Company Limited (in Cu Knia commune, Cu Jut district, Dak Nong) broke its banks, causing wastewater to overflow into Ea Dier stream, causing fish to die and water pollution.
The water is black as ink, people are panicking.
On the afternoon of August 13, the People's Committee of Dak Drong commune received complaints from local people about the water in the Ea Dier stream in the border area between Dak Drong commune and Cu Knia commune being as black as ink, with a very unpleasant stench. About 7km downstream from Ea Dier stream, there were also unusual deaths of fish, shrimp, and crabs.
On the morning of August 14, the People's Committee of Dak Drong commune, together with the commune's health station, inspected a number of locations along the stream bank from village 12 to village 3 of the commune. The inspection showed that the stream water was dark black, had a foul smell, and fish in the stream died of unknown causes.
According to Mr. Ngo Ba Gon - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dak Drong commune, the further upstream the Ea Dier stream (close to the great-grandfather pig breeding farm of Green Farm Asia Company Limited, located in Cu Knia commune), the blacker the stream water and the stronger the stench. At the time of the inspection, a wastewater reservoir of the pig farm had a broken dam (about 10m2) and wastewater was still flowing into the environment.
On the afternoon of August 17, reporters from TN&MT Electronic Newspaper visited the pig farm of Green Farm Asia Company Limited. According to observations, the water in the ditches around the earthen embankment in the company's premises was pitch black and quite smelly. At Ea Dier stream flowing through the pig farm area, the water was still unusually black, with a lot of dirty foam on the surface. In the company's premises, some excavators were encircling the banks to prevent wastewater from flowing out.
Some people in Hamlet 8 (Dak Drong Commune) indignantly said: “Since it started operating, the area around the pig farm has become increasingly polluted, the water around the canals is always pitch black and has a foul smell. People have repeatedly discovered the pig farm “secretly” discharging waste into the environment and reported it to the local authorities, but the situation continues. Recently, they even dared to discharge directly into Ea Dier stream, polluting the water source and killing fish and shrimp.” According to Mr. Ngo Ba Gon, Ea Dier stream flows through many villages in the commune, providing irrigation water for many crop areas as well as drinking water for livestock. The polluted water source in the stream has made local people very confused and worried. “For now, we have warned people over the loudspeaker not to use Ea Dier spring water to water crops or give livestock water to drink. After receiving results from the authorities, we will officially notify people about the cause of the incident,” said Mr. Gon.
Pig farm "intentionally" discharges waste?
On the afternoon of August 16, the inspection team chaired by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Dak Nong province coordinated with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Cu Jut district, the People's Committee of Dak Drong commune and representatives of Green Farm Asia Co., Ltd. to conduct an inspection at Ea Dier stream and the pig farm area. At the time of the inspection, the team determined that during the construction of the wastewater treatment system, the company dug a ditch connecting from wastewater reservoir No. 3 (water flow into the lake is about 70m3/day and night) to the existing rainwater drainage ditch in the company's premises and let wastewater from this reservoir escape into the environment. The inspection team found that the cause of the above incident was that the company "intentionally" discharged wastewater into the environment when the wastewater had not been thoroughly treated. However, the representative of Green Farm Company said that the company "did not intentionally" discharge wastewater into the environment. At Ea Dier stream, the team discovered that the water source in the stream was still black and had a foul smell due to wastewater discharged from the company's pig farm. Local people also reported that Ea Dier stream had unusual fish, shrimp, and crab deaths. The inspection team took 6 water samples from Ea Dier stream and reservoir No. 3 for analysis and treatment according to regulations.
According to Mr. Luu Chi Trung - Chief Inspector of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Dak Nong province, today (August 17), the inspection team of the Department conducted an unusual inspection at the pig farm area of Green Farm Asia Company. After inspecting the scene and working with relevant parties, the team determined that the discharge of waste from the pig farm into the environment was clear. In addition to requesting the company to immediately stop discharging wastewater into the environment when the treatment does not meet standards, the delegation requested the company to quickly take remedial measures and conduct an assessment of the damage (if any) to households downstream of Ea Dier stream to support and compensate appropriately.
“Initially, the company has temporarily remedied the situation by enclosing the banks to prevent wastewater from flowing out. However, if the company discharges wastewater in violation of regulations, we will strictly handle the violation. In addition, we will report to the leaders of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and assign the Department of Environment to advise the leaders of the Department to report to the People's Committee to request the company to promptly remedy the situation. If the unit does not seriously implement, we will resolutely advise suspending its operations,” said Mr. Trung.