VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi environmental police discovered that a paper-making plant in Ung Hoa District has been dumping untreated waste into the Nhue river.

The company has been discharging about 10 cubic metres of untreated waste daily into the river via an underground pipe, said Luong Xuan Bach from the Department of Environmental Police.

"The company does not have a waste treatment facility," he added.

"The company has also violated dyke-protection regulations by installing a pipe through the dyke system along the river without permission from authorised agencies," he said.

The Ha Noi Department of Resources and Environment's water resources analysis and observation centre has taken samples of waste water for testing.

Under current regulations, firms that break environmental protection laws face a fine of between VND100,000-VND500 million (US$5-$25,000) and/or criminal proceedings.

Trinh Duy Hung, vice chairman of the municipal People's Committee, said officials had been asked to step up inspections of factories neighbouring the river before May 31.

Police have so far uncovered 4,600 cases of environmental pollution in the river.

The river is used to irrigate about 50,000ha of agricultural land in greater Ha Noi.

* Student climate change video contest begins

A video competition has been launched by the European Commission delegation, in collaboration with the newspaper Sinh Vien (The Student), inviting university students to make a short film about the impact of climate change on Viet Nam.

The contest is part of a month-long series of intellectual and cultural activities in the context of Europe Days 2011 and leading up to Europe Day on May 9.

Contestants can submit short videos on how climate change is affecting lives in Viet Nam and filmed on either digital video cameras or mobile phones. The video should be no longer than five minutes in duration and be accompanied by a narration which can be either subtitled or in voice-over. Entries must be submitted to Sinh Vien at 5 Hoa Ma Street, Ha Noi, by May 20, and the full contest rules can be found at www.delvnmhan.europa.europa.eu.

The jury, consisting of environmental specialists, professional videographers and media representatives, will award three main prizes based on such criteria as the effectiveness of the video in conveying a message about the impact of climate change; originality in how that message is captured and presented; and the emotional impact of the film.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News