Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Defense Minister, chaired the event.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien addressing the event |
After nearly three years of implementation, A So Airport is now free of the toxic chemical which has had damaging impact on people’s health and the environment. Almost 38,718 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated soil were buried to contain the spread of the toxic chemical, while microbiologic technology was employed to clear dioxin residue in another part of the airport. This technology was used in several projects in Phu Cat Airport (Binh Dinh province) and Bien Hoa Airport (Dong Nai province), obtaining positive results.
Speaking at the event, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed that the Party and State always pay much attention to overcoming the consequences of post-war toxic chemicals. Agencies and units have actively conducted investigation, survey and technological research to localize and detoxify polluted oil to remove toxic chemicals, restore the environment, protect people’s health and stabilize their lives, as well as promote socio-economic development. The implementation of the project has shown the great efforts of the Ministry of National Defense in overcoming post-war consequences.
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The stele marking the dioxin cleanup area at A So Airport |
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The dioxin-free area seen from above |
The deputy defense minister affirmed that the project totally used the State’s budget and made-by-Vietnam technology and techniques, contributing to showing the country’s capacity in mastering advanced technology and handling post-war toxic chemicals/dioxin.
During wartime, the U.S. military used A So Valley in A Luoi district as a field airport to transport and store Agent Orange. Currently, Thua Thien Hue has nearly 16,000 people having been exposed to Agent Orange, including 5,000 from A Luoi district.
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Chemical Corps and A Luoi district People’s Committee signs the minutes to hand over dioxin-free land to the locality. |
At the event, Commander of the Chemical Corps and Chairman of the A Luoi district People’s Committee inked the minutes to hand over dioxin-free land to the locality. On the occasion, collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in handling post-war dioxin residue at A So Airport received certificates of merit from the Minister of National Defense.
Translated by Quynh Oanh