The chairman of HCM City People’s Committee, Le Hoang Quan, requested that Hao Duong Leather Tanning JS Company halt operations for six months following serious environmental violations.
By Tung Nguyen
Hao Duong Company was caught for discharging untreated wastewater into Dong Dien River
Quan urged the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment to cooperate with police and other relevant agencies to set up a taskforce to uncover the company’s wrongdoings. The results of the investigation must be reported to the committee before November 15.
On October 24, environmental police and other management agencies in the city caught the company directly discharging untreated wastewater into Dong Dien River.
In order to cover this up the company arranged a large number of body guards along two fences at the banks of the river to deter authorities sudden inspection.
Since 2009, Hao Duong Leather Tanning JS Company has been fined at least nine times for environmental infractions. In August 2012, it was fined VND340 million (USD16,190). Most recently, it was fined VND75 million (USD3,570) earlier this month.
Vietnam News Agency cited a HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zone Authority (HEPZA) report as saying that, in August 2012, the volume of wastewater generated by the company was 22 times the limit, while its emissions were 14 times above the limit.
HEPZA said it was difficult to uncover proof of the company's violations, especially during flood tides, because it had installed an underground pipeline system.
Local residents, meanwhile, had been complaining for years about the smell caused by the dirty water that the company was discharging into the river.
(dtinews.vn )