Tobacco factory in Khanh Hoa blamed for environmental pollution By Nguyen Dung | dtinews.vn  Hundreds of residents of a village in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa have been calling for a solution to environmental pollution caused by a tobacco factory.   Khatoco's tobacco factory blamed for environmental pollution Residents in Dak Loc 1 and Dak Loc 2 Hamlets in Vinh Phuong Commune have gathered in front of Khatoco Company’s tobacco factory several times to ask them to reduce environmental pollution in the area. The latest protest occurred on July 16 and the residents said the pollution has seriously affected their lives and their health. The VND450-billion (USD20 million) factory was built by Khanh Viet Corporation with a capacity of 18,000 tonnes per year. Since it first opened in October 2012 in Dak Loc Industrial Zone in Vinh Phuong Commune, it has generated jobs for about 200 people. However, throughout its operation, the factory has continued to produce large amounts of dust, noise and bad smells, critically affecting the lives of people living in the neighbourhood. Many local residents are suffering from respiratory diseases and their situation is getting worse. Local people said waste and wastewater from the plant has seriously polluted local water sources while continuous noise has resulted in hearing problems for the residents as well. Many locals complained that they’ve suffered from sore throat, coughing, and nosebleeds as a result of constantly inhaling polluted air generated by the factory. Le Thi Thiep, who lives close to the factory, said, " While the government encourages people not to smoke, the provincial government licensed the construction of a tobacco factory. I don't understand this, it makes no sense. Its operations have desperately affected our lives.” Ho Xuan Lam, who lives around 100 metres  from the factory, said he has been infected with pneumonia for years and his situation has been getting worse since the factory started operation. Nguyen Van Don, head of Dak Lok 2 Hamlet said, Dak Lok 1 and Dak Lok 2 Hamlets have a combined number of 700-plus households, and the majority of them are living close to the factory and are seriously impacted by the environmental pollution. It is said that the Provincial Government has planned to relocate 26 households, which are the closest to the factory, to a resettment area instead of moving the factory. Vinh Phuong communal authorities organised a meeting on July 17 to solicit people’s opinion about the issue. Even though they invited some officials from Khatoco, none came. At the meeting, the majority of local residents did not agree with the plan to relocate 26 households. They requested that the plant stop operation in order to restore the previous, perfectly healthy environment. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Chairwoman of Vinh Phuong communal People’s Committee cited the plant’s director Dang Thai Luyen’s saying that the plant meets all environmental protection requirements. However, a recent report by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment showed that the concentration of gas emissions from the factory is still rather high and adversely affects people in the neighbourhood. Local resident, Le Thi Thiep said, “Our ancestors set up their lives here over 300 years ago. It’s unfair for us to have to relocate just to facilitate the operation of a newly-built plant. Why don’t they move the plant to another place to ensure our stable life?” Hoang Dinh Doanh, Deputy Director of Khatoco Company said they would apply measures to reduce noise and dust in the future. “We can’t close the factory as we have pumped a lot of money into its construction and operation. We won’t relocate it either as it’s located in an industrial cluster,” he added.