Additional measures sought for pollution-affected central locals

The meeting was hosted by the steering committee on measures to stabilise lives, production and trading in four central provinces hit by sea environmental incident and chaired by permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, localities have basically completed loss estimate. 

Under the Prime Minister’s direction, VND3 trillion (US$136.3 million) was advanced for Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue. 

As of November 7, Thua Thien-Hue and Ha Tinh provinces disbursed VND213.9 billion (US$9.7 million) and VND49.4 billion (US$2.24 million), respectively. 

Quang Tri plans to offer compensation to residents on November 10, while Quang Binh will do so from November 11. 

The Health Ministry reported that more than 5,300 tonnes of frozen fish remain in stock in the four provinces, 82% of them are safe for use. 

Deputy PM Binh asked ministries concerned to refine two projects on livelihood support and monitoring system to submit to the government for adoption, which are expected to be launched next year and completed in late 2018. 

The ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Public Health, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences were required to provide objective, correct and scientific information about the sea environment in the region which has been safe for swimming, tourism and aquaculture for the media to inform to the public, Binh said.