Thứ Sáu, 20/10/2017, 07:44 (GMT+7)
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Mass fish death compensation must be made transparently and publicly: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has asked the four central coastal localities involved to complete their compensation for mass fish deaths caused by an environmental incident in a transparent and public manner.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh speaking at the working session (Photo: VGP)
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh speaking at the working session (Photo: VGP)

He made the request while chairing the tenth working session of the Steering Committee on stabilising the lives and production of the people in the four provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Trị, and Thua Thien – Hue, which were affected by the incident caused by Taiwanese firm Formosa in April 2016.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported that as of October 10, the provinces had disbursed VND 6.193 trillion (US$ 272.6 million), equivalent to 97.4% of the approved amount and 94.1% of the total advanced payment.

The unpaid money has not yet been disbursed due to the recipients not being present at the localities or they are still waiting for their complaints to be resolved.

In the same reviewed period, stockpiled seafood was reported at 12,223 tonnes, an increase of 6,855 tonnes, as announced by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in November last year.

The four-affected localities called for the upgrade, repair and construction of storm shelters for boats, and improve the infrastructure of seafood processing complexes, irrigation works and canal systems.

In response to the participants’ concerns, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh said that the PM has approved an investment for a project to build a marine environmental monitoring and warning system in the four central provinces, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has instructed the relevant localities to implement the project.

Regarding the additional volume of stockpile seafood, he said that the Health Ministry reported that it has taken samples of a total of 5,369 tonnes of seafood for tests, which was approved as the final figure.

Therefore, no expansion for compensation will be accepted unless such addition cases show legal confirmation from the local authorities and an agreement from the local community, he concluded.

(Source: NDO)

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