VietNamNet Bridge – A tapioca starch production plant in central Thanh Hoa Province has been fined VND310 million (US$13,710) for polluting the environment.

The Ba Thuoc tapioca starch production plant has been discharging highly polluted wastewater into Ma River.

The Ba Thuoc plant, located in Ba Thuoc District’s Thiet Ong Commune, was found to be discharging wastewater into Ma River with pollutants exceeding the permitted level set by the provincial People’s Committee.

The committee fined the factory VND260 million ($11,410) for polluted water discharge and another VND50 million ($2,300) for not installing a water meter to measure the volume of wastewater before discharging it into the river.

The committee has ordered the plant to take steps to reduce pollutants and submit results before the end of this month. 

It has also asked the factory to install the water meter before March 30.

Earlier this month, many households in Thiet Ong Commune had complained that wastewater from the plant was destroying their crops and affecting their lives. 

Following this, inspectors from the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment had collected and tested samples of the discharge water and found that the factory was violating regulations. 

VNS