The HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment just temporarily shut down 51 factories found to be causing severe pollution. Nguyen Thi Du, head of the department’s Inspectorate, said inspectors had visited 354 firms and found 51 seriously violating environment rules.
They each released wastes five times more standard than permitted and three times in the case of dangerous waste and at least two other kinds of waste.
Based on current classifications of pollution, the waste was causing a severe impact on the environment and public health, Du said.
The department worked with the HCM City Power Company to cut off the electricity supply to these firms, she said.
In the past, after power was cut off to Viet Thang Jean Trading – Producing Company in District 9 for causing severe pollution by discharging untreated waste water from its garment and cloth dye operations, the company fell in line and stopped polluting, she explained.
"The department now regularly updates the list of serial offenders and serious polluters to improve oversight," Du said.
Enterprises that pollute the environment would have their operations suspended, she warned.