Hell or high waters

/ November 17, 2019

Hanoi yet to decide pricing of water from controversial Duong river waterworks

The Hanoitimes - The Hanoi government had consulted with the Ministry of Finance and the rate of VND10,246 (US$0.44) per cubic meter of water is preliminary, not the charge that end users have to pay. The Hanoi government has not decided the price of water supplied by a company with input from the Duong river, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said on November 15. The mayor stressed that the municipal government had consulted with the Ministry of Finance and the rate of VND10,246 (US$0.44) per cubic meter of water is preliminary, not the charge that end users have to pay. In the time ahead, when the investor carries out the project settlement, there will be an audit for the project. Then, the official production cost by Duong River Surface Water Plant will be determined. The Hanoi mayor affirmed the safe water pricing has been transparent and implies no murky interests. The municipal government creates all favorable conditions for investors to timely supply clean water for the city’s residents, especially the construction of the entire water pipeline system to reach districts as far away as Thanh Oai, My Duc, Ha Dong, Dong Anh, among others. Inside Duong River Surface Water Treatment Plant in Hanoi. Photo: Quoc Tuan Earlier, at a press conference, Nguyen Viet Ha, director of the Hanoi Department of Finance, also affirmed that up to now, the clean water pricing of Duong river waterworks has not been determined because the project has not been finalized. "Therefore, the Hanoi government has not provided any subsidy for this business and relevant units," said Ha. The Hanoi government is negotiating with the Duong river waterworks and distribution units, on the principle that the wholesale price is not higher than the retail price, Ha added. "The rate of US$0.44 per cubic meter is designed from temporary calculation, not a rate that end consumers have to pay," Ha stressed. He explained that Duong River …

/ July 2, 2017

Concerns as Vietnam allows coal-fired power plant to dump waste near protected waters

Vietnam’s environment ministry has given a power company permission to dump nearly one million cubic meters of mud from a coastal thermal plant into the sea. The Vinh Tan 1 Power Company is going to dump the dredging mud at a depth of around 36 meters over an area of 30 hectares (74 acres). The ministry said that the "organic" waste did not contain toxic or radioactive substances that exceed Vietnamese standards, but could not be dumped inland due to high s alinity. The ministry also ordered the company to install nets to prevent the waste from spreading, and close down the operation immediately if there are signs of adverse impacts to the environment. However, experts say the ministry is wrong and should not have given the green-light for a dumping ground just eight kilometers from a marine reserve. Nguyen Tac An, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Marine Science and Technology, said the damage will be hard to measure. “The damage to biodiversity could cover a large area,” he said. Creatures that rely on sight to survive could die if the water is disturbed, and they play a very important role in the ecosystem. He said the ministry is prioritizing electricity over the environment. Construction at the power plant started in July 2015, with Chinese investors pouring in 95 percent of the projected $1.75 billion investment. It is scheduled to open in late 2018. …

/ February 17, 2021

UV reaches ‘very high’ level in southern Vietnam

The ultraviolet (UV) index in Ho Chi Minh City and other southern localities will be at a 'very high' level over the next days, the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHF) reported. The highest UV level in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday was 9.5 and is expected to reach 10 from February 18 to 20. In other southern localities such as Can Tho City and Ca Mau Province, the UV index is forecast to be at nine to 10 between February 17 and 29. In the central city of Da Nang, the UV index reached 7.9 at noon on Wednesday and will remain at around seven over the next three days. The highest UV level in Hanoi was only at 2.7 on Wednesday, but will increase to three, four, and six on February 18, 19, and 20, respectively. According to the NCHF, the UV index at 2.5-5.4 is considered moderate, while the 5.5-7.4 range is high and 7.5-10.4 is very high. A UV reading at the very high level can penetrate clouds and glass windows, while causing sunburn after 25 minutes of exposure. Residents are advised to stay indoors from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Those who need to go out outside should protect themselves with jackets, gloves, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen, as well as staying hydrated by drinking sufficient water and eat fruits rich in vitamin C. As the COVID-19 pandemic is still complicated in multiple localities in the country, people must also comply with the five rules of coronavirus prevention and control, namely wearing face masks, disinfecting, keeping safe distance, avoid gatherings, and filling out health declaration forms. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! …