Wastewater is treated in aeration tanks at an industrial facility in Đồng Tháp Province before being discharged, as stricter environmental regulations come into vogue. — VNA/VNS Photo

ĐỒNG THÁP — Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Đồng Tháp Province are strengthening environmental oversight at industrial zones and clusters, focusing on upgrading centralised wastewater treatment systems, to support sustainable development goals.

Under a newly issued directive, the province People’s Committee requires relevant agencies to classify industrial clusters into specific groups, enabling tailored management approaches and appropriate investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure.

In the case of clusters that already have centralised wastewater treatment systems, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has been tasked with coordinating with local authorities and relevant units to guide secondary investors in connecting their wastewater to shared systems in line with environmental regulations.

Authorities will also help communes and infrastructure operators regularly inspect and evaluate the systems to ensure they can receive and treat wastewater from secondary projects.

Where enterprises expand production beyond treatment capacity, infrastructure investors must propose timely upgrades or expansions.

In the case of specialised industrial clusters not required to install centralised wastewater treatment systems, the province will conduct comprehensive environmental assessments before granting exemptions.

These clusters include Trung An, Bình Thành, Cái Tàu Hạ–An Nhơn, Tân Mỹ Chánh, Mỹ Hiệp and Bắc Sông Xáng.

They were established before January 1, 2022, have occupancy rates above 80 per cent and house enterprises that have already invested in individual wastewater treatment systems that meet regulatory standards.

Relevant departments have been assigned to conduct detailed evaluations of each cluster and advise on exemption decisions.

Clusters required to build wastewater treatment systems under a defined roadmap, such as Trường Xuân, Tân Dương, An Bình, and Quảng Khánh, have been urged to speed up work on them.

Trường Xuân authorities have been instructed to review land-use planning, identify suitable land, prepare investment lists and propose funding for centralised wastewater treatment systems, prioritised in the 2026-30 public investment plan with implementation targeted from 2026.

At inactive clusters such as An Bình and Tân Dương, local authorities will continue monitoring and require plans for compliant treatment systems once operations resume or new projects emerge. Infrastructure operators at Quảng Khánh are asked to accelerate construction in line with approved planning.

Where land for centralised systems is lacking, the Department of Agriculture and Environment will review conditions and propose exemptions under the Law on Environmental Protection, while still requiring enterprises to review discharge sources, complete environmental procedures and meet technical standards.

For industrial zones, the provincial Economic Zone Authority will ensure all secondary projects connect to centralised systems and comply with regulations, while investors must upgrade and expand treatment capacity and complete environmental documentation.

Developers at Tân Hương, Long Giang, Sa Đéc and Trần Quốc Toản industrial zones have been urged to improve technologies, expand capacity and prepare upgrades to meet future discharge requirements.

According to Võ Phương Thủy, director of the Department of Industry and Trade, Đồng Tháp has 26 approved industrial zones, including six operational with 180 projects, three under development and two completing procedures, while the rest are in planning or seeking investors.

The province also has 23 industrial clusters covering over 797ha, with 18 in operation hosting 129 projects, including 17 FDI ventures. — VNS