A pig farm run by Hoang Anh Agricultural and General Service Cooperative, based in Ky Anh District, Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam, has been fined VND285 million (US$11,444) for operating without an environmental permit and causing surface water pollution.

Phan Cong Vu’s cooperative was fined VND160 million ($6,424) for operating without the necessary environmental permit and an additional VND125 million ($5,020) for polluting surface water with pollutant levels exceeding technical standards by more than ten times, the sub-department of natural resources and environment in Ky Anh said on Thursday last week.

The pig farm was also ordered to cease operations for nine months and adopt environmental remediation measures within 60 days.

It was required to cover the costs for analyzing surface water samples, as per prevailing regulations.

Previously, dozens of local inhabitants gathered at the cooperative on June 28, expressing their objections to the pig farm for having caused pollution in the neighborhood.

Local residents claimed that the release of sludge and water from the farm's reservoir into a nearby stream on June 5 had caused unusual fish deaths.

On June 27, the cooperative’s renovation of its sedimentation pond produced foul odors, prompting the residents to report the issue to authorities.

On the following day, leaders of the Ky Anh administration inspected the pig farm’s operations and held discussions with the locals to address their concerns.

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