Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has emphasised the prompt delivery of compensation to residents in four central provinces affected by the serious marine pollution incident earlier this year as well as support for them to resume normal life and production.
The four central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue saw abnormal dead fish in large amounts in April this year.
In late June, Formosa Ha Tinh accepted responsibility for the mass fish deaths. The pollution damaged about 400 hectares of coral and affected over 260,000 people who earn their living by working at sea.
The company pledged to compensate over 11.5 trillion VND (500 million USD), which will be used to support local fishermen in changing their jobs and recover the polluted maritime environment. It also vowed to deal with shortcomings and limitations in waste and wastewater treatment.
In a document freshly issued by the Government Office following a meeting of the steering committee for solutions to overcome the pollution incident, the Deputy PM also instructed relevant ministries and agencies to act quickly to address the consequences of the incident and restore the marine environment while ensuring that the Formosa Ha Tinh abide by environmental regulations and not repeat its violations of law on discharging waste.
The Finance Ministry is to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop the guidance on levels of compensation, while the administrations of the four affected provinces must urgently complete the assessment of damages and calculate the amount of compensation to be paid to different groups of victims.
The Party committees and People’s Committees as well as social organisations of the four provinces are required to keep close supervision of the assessment process to ensure fairness, transparency and democracy.
Ministries must propose other forms of support in fields in their management to affected communities with a focus on restoring production and normal lives.
Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh also urged accelerating the pace of building marine environmental observatories in the four provinces and later expanding to other coastal localities.
The Health Ministry will continue to test samples of seafood from the affected sea areas to ensure only safe products are sold on the market.-VNA
