Former Vinaconex boss faces prosecution
The Ministry of Public Security’s Police Investigation Agency has prosecuted Phí Thái Bình, former chairman of the Vinaconex board of directors, for violating construction regulations and causing serious consequences.Bình, who is also former vice chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, was found to be responsible ...
Dầu Tiếng Reservoir sand mining suspended
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the provinces of Tây Ninh, Bình Dương and Bình Phước to suspend sand mining operations at Dầu Tiếng Reservoir, following an order from the Government. The ministry told officials to adjust planning for construction sites and ...
Mekong Delta faces increased risk of landslides as sediment loss continues
Every year, 55 million tons of sediment is lost from the rivers in Mekong Delta, 90 percent of which is sand. Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent expert, said the Mekong Delta has been taking shape for the last 6,000 years thanks to alluvial accretion. But the ...
Police link Kith Meng to illegal wood racket
The National Police on May 16 published a brief but scathing report on business mogul Kith Meng, citing anonymous sources who accuse his company of using its license to log the reservoir of the nearly completed Lower Sesan 2 hydropower dam to launder timber. Mr. ...
Outrage over Mekong EIA process
Local activists and academics are angry that Chinese officials and companies working on the Mekong River Navigation Channel Improvement Project will be the decision maker on an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project. The TEAM Group of Companies, a Thai consultancy hired by the Chinese state-owned company, met ...
Calls to halt ‘reforestation’ plan
Fourteen community representatives speaking for thousands of families on May 9 petitioned the South Korean Embassy, Environment Ministry and Forestry Administration to halt the expansion of a controversial “reforestation” project by a Korean company situated between the protected Prey Lang forest and Mekong River. Their petition ...
Vietnam struggles to find solutions to prevent landslides
Resources have been applied to prevent landslides in the Mekong Delta, but the problem has proven to be difficult to solve. In recent years, the riverbank erosion and coastal landslides have been taking away 500 hectares of land in the Mekong Delta every year, according to ...
Climate change makes water scarce in dry season in HCM City
Climate change has a huge impact on HCM City’s water resources, the head of its public water utility has warned. “Climate change, especially drought and saltwater intrusion [into rivers], has directly affected the Đồng Nai and Sài Gòn Rivers, making water treatment difficult,” Trần Văn ...
An Giang seeks emergency funds from Govt to deal with landslide aftermath
The An Giang Province People’s Committee has asked the Government for VNĐ123 billion (US$5.4 million) worth of emergency aid to deal with the aftermath of the severe landslide along the Vàm Nao River two weeks ago. The money is needed for filling a crater in ...
What is causing the death of rivers?
Rapid population increase and urbanization have put pressure on waterways in the country. The rivers in Vinh Phuc province have turned black as they have been receiving domestic waste water and waste water from craft villages, garbage and dead animals for many years. The Phan River, originating ...