The Office of the City People's Committee has just issued Official Letter No. 15245/VP-NNMT dated September 25, 2025, announcing the direction of Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Trong Dong on strengthening control and ensuring environmental sanitation in the To Lich River basin.
According to the content of the document, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Trong Dong assigned the City Police to urgently clarify and strictly handle organizations and individuals who illegally pump and discharge waste into manhole 7.2 on Lang Street, Lang Ward, and report to the City People's Committee the results before October 15, 2025.
At the same time, coordinate with the Department of Construction and the Department of Agriculture and Environment to organize surprise inspections of units providing pumping and transporting fertilizer for phosphorus tanks, strictly handle unlicensed and unauthorized cases (if any). Direct the police at the ward and commune levels to increase patrols and promptly handle violations of environmental sanitation (if any).
The Department of Agriculture and Environment, People's Committees of communes and wards: Nghia Do, Ngoc Ha, Giang Vo, Cau Giay, Lang, Yen Hoa, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan, Khuong Dinh, Dinh Cong, Thanh Liet, Hoang Liet, the Management Board of the City's Infrastructure Construction Investment Project and Agriculture according to the functions, tasks, authority and proposed content of the Department of Agriculture and Environment.
Urgently carry out related work to ensure timely prevention and strict handling of violations of environmental sanitation (if any) and effectively implement the work of ensuring environmental sanitation in the To Lich River basin.
Previously, the Economic Police Department - Hanoi City Police had just verified, investigated, and arrested 3 subjects related to a group that illegally discharged nearly 50m3 of waste into the To Lich River, causing environmental pollution and public outrage.
Specifically, at around 3:00 a.m. on September 5, 2025, in the area of the To Lich River embankment, the section opposite 584 Lang Street (Lang Ward, Hanoi), the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment System Project Management Board discovered a stream of waste suspected to be phosphorus fertilizer discharged directly into the manhole, then flowing straight into the river.
It is estimated that the amount of waste is up to about 50m3, causing a strong stench and serious pollution in a large area.
Upon receiving the report, under the direct direction of the City Police Department, Team 3 - Economic Police Department - Hanoi City Police quickly took action.
Through the urgent verification and review process, the police determined that the white tanker truck with license plate 30L-573.96 recorded by a security camera belonging to Hanoi Urban Drainage Environmental Sanitation Company Limited illegally discharged waste into the To Lich River through the manhole system.
This is a company founded by Nguyen Khac Dao (born in 1982) and Chu Thi Vang (born in 1983). During the investigation, the subjects confessed that Dao and his wife's company did not have a waste treatment license and did not sign with any legal treatment unit. Therefore, after sucking the phosphorus tank, Dao directed the driver to transport it to unregulated locations for dumping.
The behavior of the subjects resulted in broken pipes in the manhole, untreated waste overflowing directly into the To Lich River, causing serious pollution and a strong stench.
