Waste dumping location in Nghệ An sea rejected

NGHỆ AN — The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has rejected a proposed location for dumping waste from dredging activities around the sea in the central province of Nghệ An.

The dumping was proposed as part of a passage upgrade project at Cửa Lò Port.

According to the ministry, the dumping area is the traditional fishing ground of fishermen in Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh provinces.

It is close to the fish protection area along the coastal area of Nghi Xuân-Hà Tĩnh Province and located in the fish breeding area of central northern region.

The proposed dumping area is some 10km from the coast and 15.4m deep.

“This is not an appropriate location, which is deep and located at the estuary of Lam River,” the ministry said.

The ministry proposed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment study another option to ensure business benefits and at the same time protect ecosystems and the livelihoods of local fishermen.

Earlier in 2014, the Viet Nam Maritime Administration started a plan for upgrading the Cửa Lò Port to allow passage of 50,000-tonne freighters.

The work will cost VNĐ375.6 billion (US$16.3 million). Of that amount, VNĐ179.3 billion has been used in the first phase, including a deepening of the passage by 7.2m and an installation of a marking buoy system.

The remaining investment has been spent on a dyke of 250m in length in the second phase. — VNS