On April 23, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Phu Cat district (Binh Dinh) said that it had concluded the inspection and verification of the content of people's and press reports on the serious environmental pollution caused by a paint processing factory operating right in a residential area in Phu Hau village, Cat Chanh commune.
According to the inspection results, the above squid processing workshop is the second facility of Trung Luong business household, represented by Ms. Bui Thi Ai Vy. The facility specializes in processing and processing dried and fresh seafood, which used to operate in Cat Tien town, then moved to Phu Hau village from August 2023. However, the land plot that the facility is currently using has not been granted a Land Use Rights Certificate.
At the time of inspection, the workshop had about 21 workers working regularly, operating from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day, with an average amount of imported ink materials of about 1.2 tons per month. The production process is mainly manual, without an effective odor treatment system, causing a strong odor to spread into the environment, affecting the lives of people around.
Notably, wastewater from the processing process is collected into plastic bins for sedimentation and discharged into the waterproof container, only processed about 10 days/time. This facility also does not have fire prevention and fighting documents confirmed by the competent authority, and has not declared and paid taxes according to regulations.
The district Department of Agriculture and Environment determined that the production facility did not ensure a safe environmental distance from the residential area, as reflected by the press and people.
From the above results, the unit proposed to the People's Committee of Phu Cat district to issue a written request to terminate the above -mentioned ink processing workshop, and at the same time direct the People's Committee of Cat Chanh Commune to work with the business household owner to agree on the time to relocate the workshop out of the residential area.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment proposed that the District People's Committee assign the Department of Finance - Planning to revoke the Business Registration License granted to this facility because it operated in a location that was not in accordance with the planning and did not ensure environmental safety. Assign the Phu Cat - Phu My Inter-district Tax Team, Tax Department of Region XIII to work with business households to verify and guide tax declaration and payment according to regulations.
Previously, in early April 2025, reporters were present in the area and recorded a strong stench coming from the incense processing factory, spreading throughout the residential area, especially strong when approaching the factory. Many people gathered around the squid factory, stretched out banners to protest, and demanded a thorough handling of the prolonged pollution.
Ms. Nguyen Thi To Tam, a resident living near the squid factory, said: "The factory operates continuously day and night, the stench causes the whole family to suffer from respiratory diseases, especially the young child who often coughs and fears due to polluted air."
Sharing the same concern, Mr. Ly Phuoc Hoa reflected: "The domestic water source used to be very clean, now it is contaminated with salt and odor, causing itching every time used. We have reported it many times but it has not been thoroughly handled."
According to Mr. Tran Vinh Phu - Head of the village and Secretary of the Phu Hau Party Cell, there are currently about 70-80 households that are directly affected by the operation of the squid processing factory. People are upset and have repeatedly reported to all levels, although the owners of the squid production facility have fixed it, the stench is still strong.
