VietNamNet Bridge – An environmental police agency has imposed a fine of VND250 million (US$12,000) on major fashion garment producer Thai Tuan for releasing poorly-treated wastewater and emission into the Tham Luong Canal in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Thai Tuan Group Corporation has been requested to comply with regulations on treating wastewater and emission before discharging them into the environment, the Anti-Environmental Crime Police Department said late last week.

Earlier on August 17, the police caught a factory belonging to Thai Tuan in HCMC’s District 12 releasing hot, red wastewater into the canal.

Le Thuc Hoai, deputy director of Thai Tuan, explained that the wastewater came from simple sanitary activities like the washing of machines and equipment but the department said both sanitary and industrial wastewater must be treated before being discharged.

Though the plant is exploiting underground water at a capacity of 1,400 cubic meters per day, the inspectors found its wastewater treatment system is designed to treat only 300 cubic meters per day.

The inspectors concluded that about 660 cubic meters of wastewater went untreated everyday at the plant.

Tests on the samples of the wastewater show it contains harmful chemicals that exceed the country’s allowable limits, the police said.

Talking over the phone with Tuoi Tre yesterday, Thai Tuan Chi, the president and CEO of the group, said the company had taken corrective measures under the department’s instructions to ensure its compliance with environmental protection regulations.

The company is selecting a contractor to reform the plant’s wastewater collection and treatment system to improve its capacity and efficiency, he said.

VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre