Sand clogs Binh Dinh seaport

Sand has been clogging the Tam Quan Seaport in Hoai Nhon District, the central province of Binh Dinh, for a month now.

This is posing difficulties to ships arriving and departing from the port.

La Phai, a local seaman, said that the seaport has been getting badly clogged more and more in the past few years.

After the local authorities hired ships to remove the sand, the condition improved for a short while. But the seaport got clogged again when the wind and waves were strong, he said.

Local fishing ships, especially the big vessels, often had to make landfall at the Quy Nhon fishing port or other safer and more convenient ports, he said.

Deputy chairman of the Tam Quan Bac People's Committee Diep Van Thuong said that the State had built a 400-metre-long dike to block the waves in 2006 to prevent the sand from filling up the seaport.

The dike was extended by 400 metres in 2009. However, the amount of sand has increased over the previous years and scientists say that it's due to climate change, Phai said.

Five ships have had accidents while entering and leaving the seaport since last year, causing losses of nearly 12 billion dong.

To deal with the problem, the Tam Quan Bac Commune People's Committee last Saturday signed a contract with the Thien Kim Construction Co Ltd for dredging the port. So far, two ships have pumped out 6,000 cubic metres of the 30,000 cubic metres of sand in the port.

Vu Thanh Tung, a technical worker of the HD-1029 ship, said that the ship can pump out 140 cubic metres of sand per day. However, it pumps out the sand only thrice daily due to shortage of workers.

It's expected that by this Saturday more workers would be assigned so that the ships can pump out the sand about 15 times per day, he said.

National Highway car crash injures 11

Eleven people were seriously injured after a passenger car crashed into two motorbikes traveling in the opposite direction on National Highway 13, section running through southern Binh Duong Province's Thuan An Town yesterday morning.

The victims, including two driving the motorbikes and nine traveling in the car to go on a pilgrimage to Ba Chau Doc pagoda in Mekong Delta's An Giang Province, were sent to hospital for treatment. Three were reported to be in critical situation.

Local police are conducting further investigation.

Two national border urban areas planned for Tay Ninh

The border gates of Chang Riec and Vac Sa in the southern province of Tay Ninh will be upgraded to national fifth-tier border urban areas by 2020.

Under a detailed master plan ratified by the provincial People’s Committee on February 11, the 285-hectare Chang Riec border urban area sits in Tan Bien district and borders Cambodia to the north, providing home to some 14,000 people.

Functional and public facilities like border management areas, trade and services complexes, post offices, banks and business representative offices will link with residential areas covering 643 hectares.

Meanwhile, Vac Sa border urban area in Tan Chau district will sit on a site of 89 hectares and accommodate 4,000 residents.

The total investment for both is estimated at VND7.5 trillion (US$350 million).

According to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Le Thanh Cong, border trade between Tay Ninh and Cambodia hit US$1.2 billion last year, of which US$461 million via Chang Riec and Vac Sa border gates.

A/H5N1 flu hits Quang Nam province

The central province of Quang Nam officially declared an A/H5N1 avian flu outbreak on February 11.

The deadly virus was detected in ducks at several Duy Xuyen and Thang Binh district households. Suspected carriers were immediately culled, and strict quarantine measures enacted in affected areas.

Concerns are growing as the spectre of an A/H5N1 flu epidemic looms over Quang Nam. Almost four million birds in the province’s poultry stock have yet to be vaccinated.

Local authorities are currently coordinating with relevant agencies on preventive measures against disease risks including influenza A/H7N9.

The Health Ministry reported two H5N1 avian flu fatalities in the southern provinces of Binh Phuoc and Dong Thap in January 2014.

Central fishermen harvest young lobsters

Fishermen from Pho Quang Commune, Duc Pho District, Quang Ngai Province earn millions of VND every night from harvesting baby lobsters since the Tet holidays.

Each boat harvests 50 to 300 young lobsters priced VND80,000-380,000 (US$3.8-18) each receiving a total of about VND7-15 million (US$333-714) in profit.

Vo Long Dinh, a local fisherman, profited as much as VND26 million (US$1,233) after one night’s harvest.

High profit from this species has prompted hundreds of fishing boats to venture out to the sea to find the commodity.

People in the neighboring province of Binh Dinh also gain much profit from young lobsters. Each boat can catch 20 to 30 a night.

Fishermen in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh harvested a total of about 200,000 ones selling for VND95,000-350,000 each (US$4.5-16.6) since end of January.

Influx of hospitalizations in Hanoi

Hospitals in Hanoi have received a large influx of children and seniors.

There was a 10 percent increase of children hospitalized since February 9, said chair of Pediatrics Department of Bach Mai Hospital Nguyen Tien Dung. Parents should be cautious for fever and pneumonia.  High fever can cause seizures affecting the brain.

The hospital along with National Children Hospital reports a large number of young patients suffering respiratory disease, cough, fever, measles, chicken pox and diarrhea.  Some are in critical condition.

The hospital experienced about 100 senior patients suffering from breathing problems, heart disease, digestive problems and diabetes.

Outbreaks of A/H5N1 on poultry in provinces

An outbreak of bird-flu viruses occurred in various provinces of Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, and Kon Tum from February 9-11.

A spread occurred in a poultry farm in An Thuong Village owned by Le Van Hue.

Since February 9, the farm containing 900 chickens some had died in mass, said Hue. Local authorities disposed of 400 infected chickens after the birds tested positive for H5N1 virus on February 11.

A poultry farm in Nga Man Village owned by Tran Ngoc Lien found over 5,000-infected waterfowl testing positive for A/H5N1

Mass outbreak of various bird flu occurred in Quang Nam Province since the beginning of the year.  These farms suffering from the outbreaks include Duy Trinh and Duy Chau Communes of Duy Xuyen District and three other farms in Binh Chanh and Binh Nguyen Communes in Thang Binh District.

All poultry found infected are promptly disposed of.

Veterinarians of Kon Tum Town in Kon Tum Province disposed Phan Thanh Long’s entire poultry farm after finding a mass infection of A/H5N1.  The farm had 600 animals.

When hydrofoil service resumes remains unknown

More than two weeks after HCMC-Vung Tau City hydrofoil service was suspended following a VinaExpress boat fire, there are no signs of the service resuming any time soon.

According to a source from the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration, authorities are thoroughly checking both single-engine and two-engine hydrofoils.

As requested by the HCMC government, those hydrofoils which have been in service for over 20 years may be decommissioned. When the hydrofoils can restart their operation rests with the Ministry of Transport.

Speaking to the Daily last week, Tran Quoc Hieu, deputy director of Quang Hung Co., the owner of Petro Express hydrofoils, said there had been no word from authorities about when the hydrofoil service could resume.

“I back the safety checks but those hydrofoil meeting safety requirements should be allowed to operate. The suspension of all hydrofoils has adversely affected the service providers,” Hieu said.

Employees of Petro Express could not enjoy this year’s Lunar New Year holiday as the firm had no other revenue streams, Hieu said.

Regarding a Government request to the Ministry of Transport to mull decommissioning hydrofoils failing to meet safety requirements, Hieu suggested the Government should have issued regulations clarifying the age of imported hydrofoils. For now there must be a road map for enterprises to follow, he added.

On January 20, a VinaExpress hydrofoil with 92 passengers on board, 85 of them Vietnamese and foreign passengers and seven crewmembers, caught fire near Phu My Bridge en route from HCMC to Vung Tau City. The blaze destroyed the upper part of the boat but left no casualties.

The cause of the fire has yet to be announced.

Roaming "monks" descend on Tay Ho Pagoda

A group of monks who are thought to be frauds have been loitering outside of Tay Ho Papoda in Hanoi to beg for money from visitors and Buddhists pilgrims.

Thousands of people flock to pagodas across the city to pray for health and happiness in the wake of the new year celebration. Fake monks are not a new issue, but it is difficult for the small security team to cover the entire area around the pagoda.

These "monks" wear brown robes, shave  their heads and often stand far from the entrance of the pagoda to avoid security, but get gradually closer to attract visitors' attention. Once their bowls are full, they throw the money into a bag and keep standing to wait for more.

Only on rare occasions do visitors ask questions. Many assume they are legitimate just because of their dress and looks, thinking their money will go to doing good deeds.

Each day one "monk" may earn over one million of VND. When asked, they will usually admit they do not have any licence and are not from any pagoda. "We travel across the country earning money to do charity work. We practice praying at home," one "monk" said.

According to monk Thich Dao Minh, the roaming monks that collect alms must wear yellow robes and their heads and feet must be bear. He said, "According to traditional practice, monks will keep walking and receive whatever food they are given, not money. If these monks standing outside pagodas want to do charity work, they shouldn't use the reputation of real monks."

Currently, only one branch in the southern region keeps the practice of taking alms. The monks that collect alms often only walk from 8am to 9am. However, the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam tries to minimise this practice in order limit the number fake monks.

Supreme Procuracy insists on prosecution of financier

The People’s Supreme Procuracy has decided to prosecute Nguyen Duc Kien, the founder of ACB bank, along with eight accomplices, on several charges.

The agency issued the second indictment on Nguyen Duc Kien and his accomplices on February 9 after additional investigation. In January the Hanoi People’s Court decided to return Kien’s dossier for further investigation.

In the follow-up investigation the court focused on Pham Trung Cang, 60, ACB’s former Vice Chairman, who allegedly intentionally violated state regulations on economic management. Huynh Quang Tuan, former standing member of ACB’s Board of Directors was accused of the same charge.

The investigative agency said Cang and Tuan were involved in a scam by which ACB staff members made into deposit money at Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank) to benefit from interest rates of between 17.8% and 27% per year. This would be considered misconduct as it violates the Law on Credit Institutions.

Both Cang and Tuan were added to the list of those to be prosecuted, bringing the number of offenders in the case to nine.

In the second indictment, the People’s Supreme Procuracy stood firm on prosecuting Kien on four charges, including illegal business, extortion and asset appropriation, tax evasion and intentional breach of state regulations on economic management.

Meanwhile, Tran Ngoc Thanh, the former director of ACB Hanoi Investment JSC and Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, the company's former chief account were also both prosecuted for extortion and asset appropriation.

Others accused included Tran Xuan Gia, former Chairman of ACB’s Board of Director, Le Vu Ky and Trinh Kim Quang, former ACB Vice Chairmen, Ly Xuan Hai, former ACB General Director, Pham Trung Cang, ACB’s former Vice Chairman and Huynh Quang Tuan, former standing member of ACB’s Board of Directors, who were prosecuted for intentional breach of state regulations on economic management.

If the allegations are true, the crimes will have caused a total loss of over VND1.695 trillion (USD80.2 million).

Less than a month ago, January 27, Huynh Thi Huyen Nhu, a former VietinBank employee, was sentenced to life in prison for embezzling VND4 trillion (USD189.25 million) and falsifying documents.

Hydropower projects rejected due to local population concern

The Central Highlands region and its neighbouring provinces have cancelled 167 small hydroelectric projects and rejected 75 potential locations for building hydropower plants after concluding that they may seriously affect the quality of life of local residents.

The Highlands province of Lam Dong rejected the largest number of such projects - over 40, followed by Kon Tum, 34, and the central province of Quang Nam, 22.

An array of social and environmental considerations stemming from the hydropower development poses a headache to the Central Highlands and its bordering mountainous localities.

Specifically, the region has had to devote 80,000 hectares of land for the construction of hydropower plants.

The remediation of environmental consequences is slow, with only 757 hectares of forest being planted compared with 22,770 ha of forest that were converted for the purpose of building hydropower projects.

Hundreds of households have not been allocated with land for production to replace lost farms, while the construction of transport links and social welfare policies in resettlement areas for displaced local people has also moved at a snail’s pace.

The Central Highlands has put into use 118 hydropower projects with a total capacity of 5,798 MW, while 75 others are under construction.

Hanoi prioritises advanced technology application in waste treatment

Hanoi pursues the consistent policy of offering incentives for enterprises which apply advanced technologies in waste treatment in the capital, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vu Hong Khanh has said.

At a meeting relating to the implementation of waste and water treatment projects in the city on February 10, Khanh added that priorities will be given to experienced and prestigious enterprises which wish to invest in the projects.

According to Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Pham Quoc Khanh, the department is building a technical design for the construction of a water treatment plant in Van Canh commune, Hoai Duc district, which is expected to be approved in May.

It also asked the city to allocate a budget of 25 billion VND to ensure a project using state-of-the-art Japanese waste treatment technology will be put into operation this year.

In addition, Hanoi plans to set up concentrated waste water treatment systems in 16 industrial clusters during the 2014-2015 period.

Under the project, which has been recently approved by the Hanoi People’s Committee, the first seven systems are scheduled to run in 2014.

The city at present houses 47 industrial clusters, of which only seven have concentrated waste water treatment systems.

Man accuses pesticide company of polluting

A man in Thanh Hoa Province was threatened several times after bringing a case to light in which he claimed that a pesticide manufacturer dumped tonnes of untreated hazardous chemicals on local land.

Le Dinh Son, from Quan Phac Hamlet, Cam Van Commune, decided to lodge a complaint to provincial officials against Nicotex Thanh Thai Joint Stock Company after others sent several complaints to communal and district governments but saw no actions taken to deal with the problem.

After an investigation, the company was found to have dumped hazardous untreated chemicals in the commune and was fined over VND421 million (USD19,919). They were also forced to take measures to clean up the pollution.

To date, hundreds of chemicals and contaminated soil have been excavated, but the company refuses to allow it to be taken for treatment. The situation has forced local environmental agencies to temporarily halt excavation.

Son said that to date people in Cam Van and Cam Tam Communes in Cam Thuy District as well as in Yen Lam Commune in Yen Dinh District cannot live a healthy and safe life because the company has taken no action to deal with the hundreds of excavated chemicals and soil over the past five months despite a firm request from the provincial government to do so.

He also said that, when the company was still in operation, all local residents in his hometown were aware of the pollution caused by the factories from the bad smell and because their animals died en masse and suffered stunted growth. After several inspections, however, the provincial Department of Environment and Natural Resources continued to say the impacts were still at acceptable levels.

“I decided to report the case after hearing one retired official from the company say that they buried chemicals. I linked this detail with the fact that my 100 hives of bees gradually went away, pigs died and fish on over 2,000 square metres of ponds were stunted in growth,” Son said.

He said that after his complaint, many people did not believe him. Communal cadres and investigative agencies even threatened him and said that he would be held accountable if he was wrong.

“Our lives were full of worry during that time. Sometimes, I would not let my wife leave our home,” he said.

He added that at one point groups of strange young men riding motorbikes surrounded his home, threatening his life.

“When authorities could not find the places where the company dumped chemicals, the firm’s leaders continued to try to discredit local residents. But those same people kept silent and fled when everything was brought to light,” he commented.

In early January, Trinh Van Chien, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee decided to grant Son a certificate of merit for his bravery in bringing attention to the situation.