Two cassava starch processing firms fined for discharging waste

Tay Ninh province on Thursday revoked the environmental licenses and fined Dang Hung Duy Company and Tan Thuy Company VND800 million ($33,800) each for discharging waste into the Vam Co Dong River.

Tay Ninh province on Thursday revoked the environmental licenses and fined Dang Hung Duy Company and Tan Thuy Company VND800 million ($33,800) each for discharging waste into the Vam Co Dong River.

The two companies specialize in the production and processing of cassava starch and are located in Truong Dong commune, Hoa Thanh township.

A section of the Vam Co Dong River in Tay Ninh province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Young People newspaper.

People living along the Vam Co Dong River (105 kilometers long, flowing through the provinces of Tay Ninh and Long An and passing through Hoa Thanh township) had reported that the water had turned black and smelled of rotten anise.

During the inspection, authorities discovered that Dang Hung Duy Company had installed pumps and pipes from its centralized wastewater tank leading to the Doan Tran stream without a discharge permit.

Tan Thuy Company also installed a pipeline from its collection tank leading to the Doan Tran stream, which was not included in its discharge permit.