Long An: A seafood processing plant in Duc Hoa district had its wastewater discharge pipe blocked for a month by the industrial park's investor, citing the reason as "failure to pay infrastructure maintenance fees."
On August 22nd, a representative from Thuan Thien Production - Trading Co., Ltd. stated that the company has been leasing land in Tan Duc Industrial Park since 2006. In March of this year, the company signed a wastewater treatment contract with the investor, Tan Duc Company (part of Tan Tao Group), and has been paying the fees in full every month.
Authorities intervened to clear the drainage system for wastewater and rainwater on August 21st. Photo: Nam An
However, on July 21st, the investor used concrete to block the company's wastewater discharge pipe. Because the seafood processing unit discharged a large amount of wastewater, the blocked pipe affected production and posed a risk of environmental pollution. Negotiations with the investor failed, Thuan Thien Company appealed to the authorities for help.
The Long An Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, along with relevant units, held two meetings with all parties involved to address the issue. A representative from Tan Duc Company stated that in addition to wastewater fees, the industrial park also has infrastructure maintenance fees. Thuan Thien Company repeatedly evaded paying this fee, forcing the investor to disconnect the wastewater pipeline from the infrastructure system under its management.
At the meetings, the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment stated that, based on the contract signed between the parties, Thuan Thien Company did not violate the wastewater treatment contract. Therefore, the department, along with the Environmental Crime Prevention Police of the Provincial Police, requested Tan Duc Company to reopen the wastewater treatment pipeline connection no later than August 15th.
However, the investor subsequently blocked the rainwater drainage system of Thuan Thien Company. Due to the unsafe working environment, on the morning of August 21st, more than 100 workers of Thuan Thien Company stopped working and gathered in front of Tan Duc Company's gate to protest.
Many workers at Thuan Thien Company stopped working to protest the blocking of their wastewater discharge route. Photo: Nam An
Mr. Le Truong Chinh, Head of the Long An Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, said that after efforts by relevant authorities, the wastewater and rainwater drainage systems at Thuan Thien Company were cleared again by noon yesterday.
The authorities have instructed Tan Duc Company not to interrupt the supply of essential services such as electricity and water, as this could cause resentment and lead to complaints; and to publicly disclose infrastructure management fees so that businesses are aware of them.
A representative from Thuan Thien Company stated that they have filed a lawsuit against Tan Duc Company, demanding compensation for damages caused by the blocked wastewater drain, which affected production.
The Tan Duc Industrial Park has approximately 200 operating businesses and nearly 19,000 workers. In March 2016, Tan Duc Company dumped earth and rocks, barricaded the gate, and cut off the water supply to a business for a week because they claimed the company had not paid infrastructure maintenance fees. Authorities subsequently had to intervene to rescue the situation.
In February of this year, due to a dispute over unpaid infrastructure fees, a factory was blocked at its gate by fire trucks from the management unit of Tan Tao Industrial Park (part of Tan Tao Group) in Binh Tan District (Ho Chi Minh City) as they demanded payment.
Nam An
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