HƯNG YÊN — Hưng Yên Province has raised the alarm over environmental pollution as many local companies continue to discharge untreated wastewater despite strict punishments by authorities.

After more than 40 investigations conducted in the first seven months of 2018, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment has detected many companies discharging wastewater with residual substances exceeding regulatory standards. Although authorities imposed harsh sentences, those companies deliberately committed and repeated violations several times.

According to Trần Đăng Anh, the department deputy director, 26 companies have been found violating regulations on environmental protection. AOCC Việt Nam Company and Thuận Phát Packaging Company, for example, were fined more than VNĐ400 million (US$17,200) each for illegal waste disposal.

Wastewater samples collected from the sewage discharged by these companies show excessive levels of pollutants including NH4+, Coliform and BOD5.

Phú Sỹ Nutrition in Ân Thi District discharged untreated wastewater ten times with levels of Coliform bacteria 80 times higher than regulated.

The wastewater contaminates the province’s river and canal systems, especially the Bắc Hưng Hải irrigation across districts of Văn Lâm, Mỹ Hào, Văn Giang and Yên Mỹ. Vast areas of agricultural land in those districts have also been abandoned for a long time as no plants or animals can survive the pollution.

The provincial People’s Committee has tasked the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to collaborate with related agencies to tighten management on companies violating regulations of environmental protection and suspend the operations of companies which commit violations more than once. The lead recycling village of Đông Mai and plastic recycling village of Minh Khai in Văn Lâm District are also put under control in an effort to restore the environment. — VNS