The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has recently concluded its assessment of the so-called “cancer village” in Thach Son Commune (Lâm Thao District, Phu Tho Province). Immediate efforts must focus on addressing the environmental issues in Thach Son; the Ministry of Health should provide more active support in medical examinations and emergency care.
For the Lam Thao Super Phosphate Company, a comprehensive plan to tackle environmental pollution must be completed by February. The battery-acid factory of Toan Thang Company must also meet environmental standards by the end of February 2006 at the latest.
Through inspections of 15 facilities in Phu Tho Province, the MoNRE found that most of these facilities, after evaluating their environmental impact reports, failed to implement or correctly follow the approved contents of these reports.
Only 2 out of 15 facilities invested in building wastewater treatment systems that meet environmental standards; 3 out of 15 facilities constructed and installed emission treatment systems that comply with regulations; and 10 out of 15 facilities conducted periodic environmental monitoring programs, but their reports were very superficial and merely formal.
