However, the built-up facilities of IP and EPZ companies have not properly treated smoke, thus worsening air pollution.

“Along with tough measures for industrial wastewater treatment, Hepza has been intensifying inspections and controls on smoke emissions at manufacturing enterprises,” Tuan said. “We will force all industrial enterprises releasing smoke and bad odor to build treatment facilities by the end of this year.”

According to Hepza, key smoke emitters are active in areas such as tanning, plant protection chemicals, animal feed production, mechanical manufacturing, wooden furniture and construction materials.

Hepza said it imposed fines of around VND400 million on nearly 50 firms for environmental protection law infringements last year. Most violations involved discharging untreated industrial wastewater and smoke, failing to treat wastewater, and exploiting underground water without prior permission.

Regarding environmental protection at factories in the city, a source from the city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment told the Daily on Wednesday that the department was completing procedures to impose total administrative fines of VND700 million on 11 large companies in the city for violating the environmental protection law.

Most of those companies are infrastructure developers of industrial parks and export processing zones, the source said.

The city’s three EPZs and 10 IPs are now home to 1,200 enterprises that employ about 256,000 workers. Their manufacturing facilities emit a total of 40,000 cubic meters of wastewater a day.