Hanoi authorities investigate oil discharging truck

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has asked local authorities in Hoa Binh to find the truck discharging oil and contaminating the Da River which is believed to be the cause of polluted tap water in Hanoi.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment have asked local authorities in Hoa Binh to find the truck discharging oil and contaminating the Da River which is believed to be the cause of polluted tap water in Hanoi.

  

Polluted  water in Hoa Binh Province

Deputy Director-General of the Vietnam Environment Administration Hoang Van Thuc said they had worked with Hoa Binh Department of Natural Resources and Environment and discovered that the upstream water of the Da River was already contaminated before being used at water plants.

Local people said they saw a 2.5-tonne truck discharge oil in the mountainous area of Phuc Tien Commune. The oil was swept to the local stream and into Da River after a rain. Hoa Binh provincial authorities were asked to investigate the case and find the truck.

"Da River is the water source for thousands of people in western Hanoi. Discharging oil carelessly is a very serious and irresponsible action," Thuc said.

As of now, the authorities have nearly cleaned up all of the oil. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has also taken water samples for testing.

People in some areas in Hanoi including Thanh Xuan, Ha Dong, Nam Tu Liem and Hoai Duc have voiced concerns over strange-smelling tap water and had to buy bottled water.