The city said that 163 polluting facilities will be relocated far from a residential area in District 12. — Photo sggp.org.vn Viet Nam News HCM CITY — HCM City’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment is working with other agencies to identify polluting facilities that should be shut down or relocated to new areas in the city’s outskirt. Nguyễn Thị Thanh Mỹ, deputy director of the department, said since 2003 the city had relocated and shut down more than 1,400 polluting facilities. However, after more than 10 years, many polluting facilities are still open, affecting the quality of life in districts 12, Hóc Môn, Bình Chánh and Củ Chi. Inspections found that 163 facilities were causing pollution. The city’s People Committee has asked these facilities to treat their waste and reduce pollution. An additional 21 facilities located in Đông Hưng Thuận Ward in District 12 were … [Read more...] about HCM City relocates polluting facilities to new production area
Pollution
Northern China ozone pollution getting worse: study
Concentrations of hazardous ground-level ozone have worsened in northern China despite country-wide efforts to tackle air pollution, according to a study published by Peking University on Tuesday. Stringent winter restrictions on industry, transportation and coal consumption enabled smog-prone northern Chinese regions to meet politically crucial air quality targets for the 2013-2017 period. But while concentrations of hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 fell, average daytime ozone levels jumped sharply, according to a study of pollution data in 33 northern cities by Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management and the Center for Statistical Science. Also known as “sunburn for the lungs”, ozone is caused by the interaction of sunlight with nitrogen oxides and the vast amounts of uncontrolled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by burning fossil fuels. Traffic congestion is a major cause. Ozone is one of six components of China’s official air … [Read more...] about Northern China ozone pollution getting worse: study
Rubber latex processing plant suspended six months for causing pollution
The wastewater treatment area of the rubber latex processing plant of Thanh Thủy Ltd Company in Bù Đăng District, Bình Phước Province. — baobinhphuoc.com.vnViet Nam News BÌNH PHƯỚC — A rubber latex processing plant in the central province of Bình Phước has been suspended from operation for six months because its wastewater tank leaked and contaminated local underground water. The plant belonging to Thanh Thủy Trade, Manufacturing, Import and Export Ltd Company is located in a residential area in Đức Liễu Commune, Bù Đăng District. The plant is just 200m from the nearest house while according to regulations; the minimum distance must be 2km. Early this year, the province’s Environment Department fined the plant VNĐ70 million for causing pollution after local residents reported the smell and contaminated water in the wells. Late last month, residents … [Read more...] about Rubber latex processing plant suspended six months for causing pollution
Major irrigation system in the north polluted
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Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops in the North of the country are being watered with polluted water. Bắc Hưng Hải irrigation system including a main dredged canal of more than 232km, branch canals of about 2,000km, dams, dykes and pumping stations – spans over three northern provinces of Hải Dương, Hưng Yên, Bắc Ninh and part of Hà Nội. The system built in the late 1950s is limited by the Hồng River to the west, the Đuống River to the north, the Thái Bình River to the east and the Luộc River to the south. It is designed to provide water for 135,000ha of crops and control floods for 185,000ha of cultivation area. Due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in the area in the last few decades, untreated wastewater from industrial zones, craft villages and residential areas has seriously polluted the irrigation system. Dr … [Read more...] about Major irrigation system in the north polluted
Vietnam plans to hike fuel taxes in fight against pollution
Vietnam is planning to raise fuel taxes from July to reduce pollution and pay off public debt, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday. Vietnam will raise the environment tax on gasoline by 33.3 percent to VND4,000 ($0.18) per liter, the ministry said on its website. Taxes on diesel, coal and lubricants will also increase, but the ministry did not indicate by how much. “The planned tax hike is part of a move to restructure the state budget with the aim of ensuring the safety and stability of the national finance system,” Deputy Finance Minister Vu Thi Mai said in the statement. The tax hike is also part of Vietnam’s strategy to limit products that cause pollution, the ministry said. As Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy, Vietnam is facing a pollution problem. The capital, Hanoi, enjoyed little more than one month of clean air last year, according to a January report by the Green Innovation and Development Center. The government is aiming to keep its … [Read more...] about Vietnam plans to hike fuel taxes in fight against pollution