VietNamNet Bridge – In the past two days, hundreds of people flocked to the headquarters of the authorities of Nghia An commune in Tu Nghia District, central province of Quang Ngai to oppose a company that was dredging the Cua Dai passage business, causing severe coastal erosion.
According to locals, this firm took advantage of the project to
dredge the Cua Dai passage to explore sand for export, causing serious
coastal erosion. After nearly three months of implementation, ships
cannot get to the open sea while the coast was eroded, harming a lot of
aqua cultural lakes of local people.
They not only require this firm to stop dredging but also claim damage compensation for their losses.
In the last two days, high tide damaged at least five shrimp
lakes, causing losses of nearly VND1.5 billion ($75,000). Mr. Quoc
Pham’s family was bare-handed now after his shrimp pond was submerged,
more than 65,000 shrimp of 1.5 months old going out to sea. The losses
is estimated at over VND300 million ($15,000).
A shrimp pond is submerged because of tidal erosion.
According to the local authorities, the Ngoc Viet Co., Ltd was
licensed to dredge the Cua Dai and collect salty sand from July 30. To
date, this company has sold more than 1.2 million tons of salty sand to
Singapore.
Mr. Nguyen Hiep, 80, said: “Previously there was a mound which was
over 1,000m from the coast. This mound worked as a breakwater. Since
this company explored sand, this mound has disappeared. We have lost a
breakwater and suffered from severe waves from the sea. If this
continues, the current residential areas along the coast will be wiped
out.”
The company’s sand exploring activities have been suspended for
several days. On Monday, the local authorities had a dialogue with local
people. At the meeting, the people asked the authorities to cancel this dredging project.
Quang
Ngai provincial authorities have decided to suspend this project for
assessing the environmental impacts and handled coastal erosion in Nghia
An commune. The company has been also asked to pay compensation to the
families whose shrimp ponds were damaged by the dredging.
VNE