LookAtVietnam – Most of the enterprises in Viet Nam’s 219 industrial and processing zones lack wastewater treatment systems, according to the deputy head of the Ministry of Public Security’s Environment Police Department, Phan Huu Vinh.

Environmental police check the waste water treatment system at HCM City’s Hao Duong Company.

And only 300,000 of the 1 million cu.m of daily waste water from these areas was treated before being discharged into the surrounding environment. Even then it failed to meet required standards, said Vinh.

“Many factories are equipped with waste-treatment systems, but seldom or never operate them due to the high cost. Thus, hazardous contaminants such as coliform bacteria and poisonous ammoniac liquid exceed permitted limits,” Vinh said.

He said this caused pollution around the Dong Nai, Sai Gon, Nhue, Day and Cau rivers.

According to an official from the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Dao Anh Kiet, punishment for those who violated environmental laws was only a maximum of VND70 million (US$3889), which he said was inadequate.

Deputy head of HCM City’s Industrial Zones Management Board, Ngo Anh Tuan, said last year his group had found and fined 184 violators a total of VND1.85 billion ($102,700).

Tuan also said that the environmental-protection law was inadequate.

However, Nguyen Xuan Ly, head of the Environment Police Department, said a new amendment to the law would strengthen regulations and would be the legal basis for authorities to fight environmental criminals.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News