Hanoi police arrested Nguyen Khac Dao, 43, his wife Chu Thi Vang, 42, and driver Nguyen Duy Cuong, 30, on 24/9 for environmental pollution. The Environmental Police Department of the Hanoi City Police Department is investigating the incident.
According to the police, Dao and his wife established the Hanoi Urban Drainage and Environmental Sanitation Company Limited in 2018. However, the company lacked the necessary permits for waste disposal and had no contracts with any authorized treatment facilities. After extracting sewage, Dao instructed drivers to dump the waste at unauthorized locations.
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A septic tank truck dumps waste into a manhole, discharging directly into the To Lich river. Photo: Police Department |
A septic tank truck dumps waste into a manhole, discharging directly into the To Lich river. Photo: Police Department
Around 3 a.m. on 5/9, Dao's employees pumped liquid waste from the septic tank of a building on Nguyen Chi Thanh street. Dao then directed Cuong to drive the tanker truck to Lang street, open a manhole cover, insert a hose, and discharge all 50 cubic meters of untreated waste.
Police confirmed the illegal dumping caused the raw sewage to flow directly into the To Lich river, causing severe pollution and a strong, foul odor across a wide area. The incident also damaged infrastructure by rupturing a drainage pipe within the manhole.
"This action not only affects the living environment of residents but also contradicts the city's efforts to clean the To Lich river," police said.
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Cuong, Dao, and Vang (from left to right) at the police station. Photo: Police Department |
Cuong, Dao, and Vang (from left to right) at the police station. Photo: Police Department
The 13.4 km To Lich river originates from the Nghia Do canal (Hoang Quoc Viet) and flows into the Nhue river through the Thanh Liet dam, or into the Red river via the Yen So pumping station with a capacity of 90 cubic meters per second. Originally a tributary of the Red river, the To Lich has suffered from severe pollution for years due to interrupted replenishment, primarily receiving wastewater, rainwater, and some water from West Lake.
Hanoi has implemented several measures to improve the river's environment. The city also plans to build a park along the To Lich river, which will include plazas, playgrounds, walkways, and green spaces.
