The Environment Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security raided the Hao Duong Leather Tanning Joint Stock Company in the early hours of October 24 and caught the company red-handed while it was discharging toxic and untreated wastewater into the Dong Dien River.
Hao Duong Leather Tanning JSC dumps untreated wastewater directly into the Dong Dien River. (Photo: SGGP)
The company was stealthily discharging untreated wastewater directly into the river via two underground pipelines. In addition, the company also designed a self-overflow system in its sedimentation tanks, from which untreated wastewater can flow directly into the river instead of going into the wastewater treatment system of Hiep Phuoc Industrial Zone.
Tran Van Xinh, who operates the company’s waste discharge system, revealed that when the sedimentation tanks were full, the company’s manager ordered him via walkie-talkie to open the discharge pipeline.
He said the company usually discharges untreated wastewater at 10pm for three to four hours every day.
The Environment Police on October 28 started to inspect the company’s implementation of environmental protection regulations.
On October 10, 2008, the City Environment Police found Hao Duong had committed three violations–releasing waste 1.5 times above permissible limits; discharging waste without treatment; and dumping waste into unauthorized areas.
Hao Duong has repeatedly violated environmental regulations and has been penalized often, but it continues to disregard the law.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
