Vedan rejects $37 million support for affected farmers

Vedan Vietnam has rejected a compensation demand of VND660 billion (US$37 million) by thousands of farmers affected by its release of untreated wastewater into a local river for 16 years.

Vedan Vietnam has rejected a compensation demand of VND660 billion (US$37 million) by thousands of farmers affected by its release of untreated wastewater into a local river for 16 years. 

The Taiwanese MSG producer informed the Farmers’ Associations of Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, and of Ho Chi Minh City Tuesday that it cannot meet their request for the financial support they have asked for.

The demand was too high, the company said in a letter sent to the three associations.

Vedan, based in Dong Nai Province’s Long Thanh District, referred to a series of documents issued by agencies saying that 77 other businesses besides itself had discharged into the Thi Vai River 50,251 cubic meters of wastewater per day, 98 percent of which did not meet quality standards.

It also said these businesses are liable for providing financial support to the farmers.

Vedan said it agreed to compensate farmers for damages it had caused after the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Natural Resources Department had released its report on the extent of damage caused.

(Source: TN)