VNS - Besides the social and economic achievements they have created, the development of industrial zones and complexes over the past years have seen several negative impacts, especially on the environment and to public health. Most recently, scientists and legislators have raised concerns about the serious pollution caused by the Bien Hoa Industrial Zone No 1 and have proposed relocating it. The Viet Nam News spoke with stakeholders about the issue.

Why do you think that the Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Zone needs to be relocated?

The Zone is a technical centre that was set up in the early 1960s. Initially, the zone was located on the city's outskirts, far away from residential areas. However, with the rapid increase in the urban population since the 1980s, the zone has become surrounded by residential areas. Therefore production in the zone has had a direct influence on people's health and the urban landscape.

Because the majority of industrial establishments were built before 1980, their technology is somewhat out of date, causing huge waste. In particular, the zone does not have an adequate sewerage or waste water plant.

There are 50 factories in the zone, housing 26,000 workers. According to statistics released by the NA's Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, every day, the zone releases 7,900 cu.m of waste water into the Dong Nai River. Meanwhile, more than 95 per cent of the population in HCM City, Dong Nai Province's Bien Hoa and Binh Duong Province's Thu Dau Mot uses the water in everyday life. The Binh An water plant, with the capacity to supply 100,000cu.m a day, is just 500m away from the zones waste water sluice-gate.

Therefore, protecting the Dong Nai River is not only to make sure the water can be used for aquaculture purposes, tourism and protecting the local environment, but more importantly to ensure clean water for the residents in all the cities.

What are the pros and cons of the zone's removal? What should be done before it takes place?

Relocating the zone is more feasible than the plan to build a zonal waste water system. Land from the zone could then be used to build a trade centre and a modern new urban area. Funds from the subsequent land auction could also be used to compensate for the relocation costs.

However, careful consideration must be taken to minimise any social and environmental impacts. Before relocating, we must ensure that the plant that will treat waste from the factories in Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Zone, is capable of handling the volume of waste generated. The relocation must be taken step by step, starting with plants that pose a high threat of pollution such as paper, chemical and battery factories.

The relocation is essential, although it will have a negative effect on job creation and hundreds enterprises. The relocation is actually well overdue.

Do you think that the environmental pollution in industrial zones is the consequence of the zones booming or because of a lack of attention to reports that the environment is being badly affected?

I do not think that the environmental pollution was caused by the industrial zones booming, but mostly by the poor management of industrial establishments that produce a lot of pollution. In fact, if management was tightened up and the waste treatment systems in zones met the national technical standards, the pollution levels that we are currently experiencing would not be higher than that of factories outside industrial zones.

In the future, which factors must be take into account when licensing investment projects in industrial zones as well as when planning zones?

When licensing investments in industrial zone projects and factories, we need to focus on the following elements. First, the planning of industrial zones in cities and provinces must be based on location, coverage, the kind of industrial production and waste treatment and management systems. The Viet Nam-Singapore, Amata and Bac Thang Long industrial zones are good models of industrial environmental planning.

Secondly, assessing effects on the environment must be listened to, particularly the accumulative effect of several projects in the same industrial zone and the effects the whole zone has on the environment and surrounding populations living conditions. It is also necessary to appraise the technology and efficiency of the waste treatment systems proposed when planning industrial zones.

Thirdly, when assessing projects in the zones, those using outdated technologies must be removed. Factories which are likely to cause a lot of pollution must not be allowed in industrial zones located near sources of water that are also used for human consumption, central urban areas and ecological areas.

Finally, the Environment Protection Law (amended in 2013) must stipulate that separate projects in industrial zones must produce their own environmental assessment report because the environment assessment made when planning industrial zones is not accurate enough to predict the precise effects on the environment. The report should also propose ways of controlling pollution levels in every project in the zone.

(VNS)