VietNamNet Bridge – Inspectors of the Vietnam Environmental Administration under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment last Saturday proposed the HCMC authorities fine 25 local entities for violating environmental protection laws a total of VND4.3 billion.

Luong Duy Hanh, director of the administration, told the Daily about the proposal after a meeting with the city’s government last Saturday.

After inspections at 49 manufacturing enterprises in HCMC in November, inspectors detected and made minutes to fine 25 companies for failing to handle waste and wastewater in line with related rules.

These violators include a company in the textile industry and another enterprise that specializes in hazardous waste treatment.

Vice chairman Nguyen Huu Tin at the meeting asked the city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment to review the results and proposals of the ministry’s inspectors to apply the fines in the near future.

Relating to tackling environmental violations nationwide, a report of the Vietnam Environment Administration shows that it had proposed fining 157 manufacturing companies for environmental violations a total of nearly VND33 billion during 2012.

The administration this year plans to focus on inspecting the compliance of environmental regulations at enterprises involving hazardous waste treatment, business and production companies, industrial parks and industrial clusters that have been polluting river basins. The authority will also increase inspections at entities exploiting, processing and storing oil whilst tightening import, transit and storage of wasted materials and garbage at seaports.

Source: SGT