The Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday began an investigation
into a series of recent incidents leading to the rupture of the pipeline
bringing water from Da River to Ha Noi.
The move follows the Ministry’s decision No 03/C46-P10 issued on July 24.
Major General Nguyen Duc Thinh, head of the Investigation Police
Bureau for Economic Management Order Offences (C46), said the probe
aimed to determine the “violating regulations on construction causing
serious consequences” under Article 229 of the country’s Penal Code.
The water pipeline was put into use in 2009, with a total investment
of VND1.5 trillion (US$70.8 million) by Vinaconex Clean Water Joint
Stock Company under the Viet Nam Construction and Import-Export
Corporation (Vinaconex).
Since being commissioned, the pipeline has seen nine breakages that
have disrupted the daily lives of about 70,000 local residents living in
the Hoang Mai, Thanh Xuan and Tu Liem districts.
In response to the disruptions, Vinaconex on Tuesday published the
decision No 03/C46-P10 on its website, while General Director Vu Quy Ha
sent an official message on the investigation to the State Securities
Commission of Viet Nam and the Ha Noi Stock Exchange.
Notice about the investigation was also sent out to Vinaconex’s investors on the same day.
Vinaconex said that the corporation has closely co-operated with
police to provide detailed information relating to the water pipeline as
required.
The company’s business and production operations were continuing as normal, a statement said.
VNS/VNN