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HẢI PHÒNG — Some small factories in the northern city of Hải Phòng have been blamed for polluting local water resources with untreated wastewater.

Of about 28 ha of farming land around Thắng Lợi Industrial cluster in An Hưng Commune, An Dương District, more than 20 has has been abandoned for years over fears of polluted water.

Local resident Trần Văn Ba said the farmers used to use water from the commune’s irrigation canal for farming but now, they did not dare.

“The water of the canal turned black and smelled after factories released their wastewater into it,” Ba said.

Trịnh Văn Quý, vice chairman of the commune People’s Committee, said the factories, including garment and mattress producing ones, opened a few years ago in a residential area and did not have their own wastewater treatment system.

“The factories discharge their wastewater into the local irrigation canal,” he said, adding that the factories are small with limited funding for waste collection and treatment.

Hoàng Thị Mai Quyên, vice head of Kiến An District’s Natural Resources and Environment department said there were industrial clusters located in residential areas across Hải Phòng City.

In Kiến An District, none of Đồng Hoà, Lãm Hà and Quán Trữ industrial clusters have wastewater treatment system.