Urgently direct inspection and handling
On November 3, Lao Dong Newspaper published an article “People cry for help because the chimney of a garment company in Thai Binh causes pollution” reflecting the opinions and recommendations of voters and people living in Cong Hoa residential group (Kien Xuong town, Kien Xuong district, Thai Binh province) about the fact that recently Hanul Company Limited has frequently discharged smoke causing environmental pollution.
On November 5, Mr. Hoang Viet Huy - Chairman of Kien Xuong District People's Committee signed and issued Decision No. 2479/QD-UBND on inspecting the compliance with environmental protection laws of Hanul Company Limited in Kien Xuong Town, Kien Xuong District. The form of inspection is a surprise inspection, within 7 days (not including the time for analyzing and assessing violations).
According to the content of this decision, the inspection team includes leaders and experts of the District Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Inspectors; District Police and leaders and officials of Kien Xuong Town People's Committee.
The delegation is responsible for developing an inspection outline, organizing the inspection of compliance with environmental protection laws for Hanul Company Limited in Kien Xuong town, Kien Xuong district; proposing the district's Department of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct an environmental appraisal; detecting and handling violations according to its authority or recommending competent authorities to handle violations according to the provisions of law.
On November 14, speaking with Lao Dong reporter, Mr. Do Viet Hung - Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Kien Xuong district, Head of the Inspection Team - said that, strictly implementing the direction of the district People's Committee leaders and according to the content of Decision No. 2479/QD-UBND dated November 5, the team worked with Hanul Company Limited regarding compliance with the law on environmental protection.
“We have taken monitoring samples to request the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring to examine the exhaust gas samples at the boiler of Hanul Company Limited. Currently, there are no results of sample analysis and examination. When there are, there will be enough basis to handle the next steps according to environmental laws,” said Mr. Hung.
The company said it had treated the exhaust fumes, but people complained about the pollution.
Hanul Company Limited was granted Business Registration Certificate No. 1000364288 by the Business Registration Office - Thai Binh Department of Planning and Investment, first registered on October 12, 2005, 6th change registered on August 16, 2022.
The Company was granted the Investment Registration Certificate with project code 4305730752 by the People's Committee of Thai Binh province for the first time on October 12, 2005, and changed for the third time on January 9, 2023 to implement the project of investing in an export garment production line with a capacity of 1,123,200 products/year. The Company started operating in 2006, currently has 784 workers (no cooking shifts).
Hanul Co., Ltd. said it is currently using 1 boiler with a capacity of 2,000 kg of steam/hour/boiler (another boiler installed in 2013 has stopped operating since October 2022); the boiler fuel is rags, cardboard tubes, and compressed wood pellets (about 12 tons of compressed wood pellets are used per month).
According to the company, the exhaust gas emitted from the boiler operation is treated by a cyclone dust filter and then passed through a chimney about 27 meters high before being released into the environment.
However, according to the reflection of people in Cong Hoa residential group (Kien Xuong town, Kien Xuong district), every time Hanul Company fires the boiler, people downwind "get enough" of the smell of acrid smoke, sometimes one pipe discharges smoke, sometimes two pipes discharge at the same time; sometimes the smoke is moderate in density, sometimes it is pitch black and thick like smoke from fires.
“From the elderly to children, everyone has to inhale the smell of smoke, sometimes it is difficult to breathe, suffocating. Especially in the dry season, when the weather changes like this, the feeling is even more uncomfortable. The houses around are also affected by the phenomenon of soot, black dust from the smoke sticking to the walls. If it weren’t for business, perhaps no one would dare to open the door…”, a resident living and doing business in Cong Hoa residential group expressed indignation.
