ID :
63748
Tue, 06/02/2009 - 10:32
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/63748
The shortlink copeid
Toxic waste continues to leak from cassava processing factory
(KPL) Thousands of Pakngum residents who live in the vicinity of Lao-Indochina Tapioca Factory Co; Ltd, a cassava processing factory, located in Natham village, Pakngum district of Vientiane Capital are worried that contaminated liquid continues to be discharged from this factory, which is highly visible to the naked eye and seen to be flowing from Nonghane lake to Namngum River.
Two weeks ago, the toxic liquid in Nonghane lake killed about 1,000 kilograms of fish in its waters and as it flows down from Nonghane Lake to Namngum river, its downstream flow path can be easily detected as it leaves behind dead fishes.
According to sources, teams from the various ministries, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry and Environmental and Prime Minister’s Office visited the affected areas.
They are planning to solve the problem by pumping the toxic liquid to safe areas. .Meanwhile Lao-Indochina Tapioca Factory said that that they had tried on numerous occasions to plug the leak but some of the liquid managed to seep through.
The contaminated water covered more than 200 hectares of Nonghane Lake.
Mr Sengmaly Sengvatthana, Director of Lao-Indochina Tapioca Factory told Lao journalists that heavy rainfall caused the toxic liquid, stored in small pounds to fill up and overflow and the run-off water found its way to Nonghane Lake.
This lake and its environment is rich in wildlife, it is a protected area and the local people who live in it hunt and trap the animals and fish to supplement their diet and now they are avoiding the fish because it contains chemicals that may harm and kill them.
The company said it is trying to compensate the villagers and its form of payment is 10,000 kip for the physical delivery of one kilogram of dead fish but the company official said that it is still in the planning stage. Lao officials said that the man-made reservoir is too small as it can only contain 270, 000 cubic meters of liquid.
The owner of this company is a Lao and he had invested US$ 5 million into this venture.
Two weeks ago, the toxic liquid in Nonghane lake killed about 1,000 kilograms of fish in its waters and as it flows down from Nonghane Lake to Namngum river, its downstream flow path can be easily detected as it leaves behind dead fishes.
According to sources, teams from the various ministries, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry and Environmental and Prime Minister’s Office visited the affected areas.
They are planning to solve the problem by pumping the toxic liquid to safe areas. .Meanwhile Lao-Indochina Tapioca Factory said that that they had tried on numerous occasions to plug the leak but some of the liquid managed to seep through.
The contaminated water covered more than 200 hectares of Nonghane Lake.
Mr Sengmaly Sengvatthana, Director of Lao-Indochina Tapioca Factory told Lao journalists that heavy rainfall caused the toxic liquid, stored in small pounds to fill up and overflow and the run-off water found its way to Nonghane Lake.
This lake and its environment is rich in wildlife, it is a protected area and the local people who live in it hunt and trap the animals and fish to supplement their diet and now they are avoiding the fish because it contains chemicals that may harm and kill them.
The company said it is trying to compensate the villagers and its form of payment is 10,000 kip for the physical delivery of one kilogram of dead fish but the company official said that it is still in the planning stage. Lao officials said that the man-made reservoir is too small as it can only contain 270, 000 cubic meters of liquid.
The owner of this company is a Lao and he had invested US$ 5 million into this venture.
