Da Nang (VNA) – Over the past 25 years, the central city of
Da Nang has worked hard to contribute to the Vietnam-US cooperation through
various joint projects, one of which was the dioxin detoxification in Da Nang
airport.
According to Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s
Committee Ho Ky Minh, the Prime Minister in 2012 approved a national plan of
action to address the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the
war in Vietnam to 2015 and orientations to 2020. One of the tasks set by the
national plan was to detoxify dioxin-polluted soil and sludge in Da Nang
airport.
The project on dioxin detoxification in Da Nang airport was
conducted by the People’s Air Defence-Air Force with the sponsorship of the US
Agency of International Development (USAID, with the goal of treating and
isolating dioxin-contaminated sludge to eliminate dioxin exposure risk in the
surrounding community, while enhancing Vietnam’s capacity in implementing
environmental pollution assessment and treatment activities.
It covered an area of 18.3 hectares with 72,900 cu.m of
sludge needing treating. In 2016, the total volume of sludge and soil subjected
for detoxification increased to 150,000 cu.m.
Capital for the project came from non-refundable ODA of the
US Government through the USAID.
During its implementation from 2012 to 2018, the People’s
Committee of Da Nang directed sectors and localities to coordinate with and
create favourable conditions for the project, said Minh.
He said that in 2014, the city proposed the project side and
relevant agencies to organise training courses on work safety for workers and
management officials to avoid risk of exposure to dioxin. Da Nang also sent
officials to join the courses.
According to a report from the Air Defence - Air Force,
162,567 cu.m of dioxin contaminated sludge and soil were cleaned, returning
about 29 hectares of area for social-economic activities. Dioxin exposure risk
for human and environment was minimised. The success of the project helped
erase Da Nang airport, which is a former US air base, out of the dioxin hot
spot list. Work safety was ensured throughout the implementation of the project
and no incident was recorded.
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