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Wastewater from Thang Loi Industrial Cluster has reportedly the irrigation canal of An Hung Commune. — Photo vov.vn

Of about 28 ha of farming land around Thang Loi Industrial cluster in An Hung Commune, An Duong District, more than 20 has has been abandoned for years over fears of polluted water.

Local resident Tran Van Ba said the farmers used to use water from the commune’s irrigation canal for farming but now, they did not dare.

“The water of the canal turned black and smelled after factories released their wastewater into it,” Ba said.

Trinh Van Quy, vice chairman of the commune People’s Committee, said the factories, including garment and mattress producing ones, opened a few years ago in a residential area and did not have their own wastewater treatment system.

“The factories discharge their wastewater into the local irrigation canal,” he said, adding that the factories are small with limited funding for waste collection and treatment.

Hoang Thi Mai Quyen, vice head of Kien An District’s Natural Resources and Environment department said there were industrial clusters located in residential areas across Hai Phong City.

In Kien An District, none of Dong Hoa, Lam Ha and Quan Tru industrial clusters have wastewater treatment system.

As a result, it was difficult to monitor the environment near factories or in residential areas around industrial clusters, she said.

VNS