Repeat offender
Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung's duck farm is located on plot number 71, map sheet number 20, with an area of 3,395.2 m2 of rice-growing land in Hamlet 2, Tan Binh Commune, Tan Tru District, Long An Province. This farm was built in 2022, with an area of over 2,061 m2 with a foundation structure, reinforced concrete columns and beams, 1m high brick walls, plastic tarpaulin, corrugated iron roof, and cement floor.
This farm has been discharging waste causing environmental pollution for many years. The authorities have repeatedly requested its relocation and even imposed administrative fines, but the owner still does not comply.
In mid-September 2022, the District People's Committee established an interdisciplinary inspection team. At that time, the farm raised about 20,000 ducks. During operation, the farm emitted a foul odor, black wastewater was discharged directly into the pond behind and caused noise that affected people in the surrounding area. The inspection team noted that the farm had violated administrative regulations in the fields of animal husbandry, land and environmental protection.
On October 3, 2022, the District People's Committee issued decisions to fine Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung for administrative violations in the fields of land, livestock and environment with a total fine of VND 85,000,000 and forced the restoration of the original state of the land before the violation.
However, after many times the local government and the district authorities reminded and gave an ultimatum to immediately stop raising ducks, this farm continued to raise thousands of ducks and continued to discharge waste causing pollution.
Will resolutely enforce
In mid-June 2024, Tan Tru District People's Committee directed Tan Binh Commune People's Committee to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TNMT) to work and request Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung not to continue restocking and move the farm out of the area within 15 days (from June 18, 2024 to July 3, 2024). However, Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung submitted a request to the District People's Committee to create conditions to move the reserve duck flock within a certain period of time.
On July 8, 2024, the People's Committee of Tan Tru district responded to the petition and requested Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung to stop the herd restoration on the farm and strictly implement remedial measures according to the decision on administrative sanctions. However, Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung then continued to restore the herd with about 3,500 laying ducks, causing pollution.
In mid-August 2024, under the direction of the District People's Committee, the Tan Binh Commune People's Committee continued to work and requested Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung to move the farm out of the area within 5 days (from August 15, 2024 to August 19, 2024). However, Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung still did not move but continued to re-raise the flock with about 3,500 laying ducks.
Recently, Tan Tru District People's Committee continued to direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Tan Binh Commune People's Committee to work and request Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung to relocate the duck farm and implement remedial measures in the decisions on handling administrative violations. Mr. Nguyen Van Tu - Ms. Phung's husband, representative of the farm - continued to ask the District People's Committee to extend the time for self-dismantling and relocation within 6 months.
According to Mr. Trinh Phuoc Trung - Chairman of Tan Tru District People's Committee, in order to completely resolve the environmental pollution during the operation of Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung's livestock farm, which caused complaints among the people and to ensure the strictness of the law, Tan Tru District People's Committee directed Tan Binh Commune People's Committee to coordinate with the district's professional agencies to continue to persuade Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phung to move the farm to a place where livestock farming is allowed in accordance with regulations. On the other hand, the Chairman of the District People's Committee requested the locality to proactively implement measures to prevent Ms. Phung from continuing to re-herd.
In case Ms. Phung does not voluntarily comply, the specialized agencies will coordinate with the People's Committee of Tan Binh commune to advise the District People's Committee to issue a decision to enforce the implementation of remedial measures and organize enforcement in accordance with regulations.
