HCMC – The environmental impact assessment report for the Can Gio sea encroachment tourist urban area project in HCMC was prepared carefully and complied with regulations, a representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said at a press briefing on July 20.
“This is a large-scale project located near the Can Gio biosphere reserve so we were very careful while appraising and approving its environmental impact assessment report. After many supplements and adjustments, the report was adopted by a council consisting of leading scientists,” stated Nguyen Xuan Hai, director of the Environmental Impact Assessment Department under the ministry’s Vietnam Environment Administration.
In the report, the investor carefully identified and assessed the possible impact of the project on the environment and prepared comprehensive solutions on mitigating this impact, according to Hai.
The investor also developed a program for the monitoring of the environment and responses to environmental issues and provided thematic reports that were independently conducted by local and international organizations.
These reports assess the project’s possible impact on the mangrove forest’s biodiversity and natural water flow. They also put into account the risks of erosion and water pollution, socioeconomic impact, salinity changes and the rising sea level.
Regarding 15 additional conditions that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment requires the investor to meet, Hai said the conditions are reasonable and comply with regulations on environmental impact assessment.
“The environmental impact assessment report shows that with construction and wastewater treatment methods meeting the highest Vietnamese standards, the project will insignificantly affect the Can Gio mangrove forest biosphere reserve,” Hai noted.
The Can Gio sea encroachment tourist urban area project has been invested in by the Can Gio Tourist City Corporation and is expected to contribute some VND3 trillion per year to HCMC’s budget once complete.
