VietNamNet Bridge – Of the 429 enterprises, industrial zones and export processing zones nationwide examined in 2012 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE), 157 establishments were found as violating the environment laws, for which they were imposed the fine of VND32.7 billion.

A report showed that Vietnam now has 283 industrial zones and export processing zones set up on a total natural area of 80,000 hectares in 58 provinces and cities. Of these, the industrial land area for leasing is 52,000 hectares, or 65 percent of the natural area.

There are also 878 small industrial factories’ clusters established by local authorities.

The problem is that the industrial zone and infrastructure development program does not come in harmonization with the environment protection program.

Asynchronous programming

According to C49, though the concentrated waste treatment works at have been installed at industrial zones, 75 percent of the waste water from the zones still has high pollution level.

The waste water from the industrial zones in the eastern part of the southern region alone makes up 49 percent of the waste water of all the zones in the country. However, only 66 percent of the zones have waste water treatment stations. Other industrial zones, either have not installed waste water treatment systems, or have the systems already, but they have been operating ineffectively.

According to the World Bank, Vietnam may bear the loss of up to 5.5 percent of annual GDP due to the environment pollution. Every year, Vietnam may have to spend $780 million on the community healthcare because of the environment pollution.

The noteworthy thing is that the environment pollution tends to get more serious, despite the higher number of inspection tours to industrial production establishments and the stricter control of the management agencies.

In 2012, the Environment General Directorate imposed the fine of VND32.7 billion on 157 enterprises. In another inspection campaign, the general directorate released the decision on imposing the fine of VND1,861 million on the violators.

Especially, the taskforces in charge of supervising the environment law enforcement have been set up in all cities and provinces.

Relocating industrial zones to protect water sources?

Local authorities all vow to protect the environment amid the rapid development of the industrial production. However, it’s always easier said than done.

The HCM City People’s Committee, for example, has requested the Dong Nai provincial authorities to relocate the Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Zone to revive the Dong Nai River which has got seriously polluted. However, nothing has been done over the last three years.

Dong Nai is a main source of water supply for HCM City and neighboring localities. The Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Zone is a project developed by Sonadezi with the total investment capital of VND17 trillion.

The relocation began in the fourth quarter of 2011, when all the enterprises would move to the Giang Dien Industrial Zone in Trang Bom district. It was expected that the relocation would get completed by 2012.

However, only 15 percent of enterprises agreed to move in 2011-2012, while 44 percent refused to move because they could not find suitable places. Others complained that the money to be compensated for the removal is not enough to build new factories and develop new infrastructure items.

Especially, the production interruption is believed to have negative impacts on thousands of workers and their families.

Compiled by C. V