HCMC suspends polluting company’s operations

November 04, 2013 | 10:00

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The Ho Chi Minh City government has decided to suspend the operations of the Hao Duong Tanning Company for six months after it was found guilty of polluting and is requiring it to use the time to fix the problem if it wants to continue its business in Vietnam.

The ultimatum came on November 6 after the company, located in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park, was caught red-handed releasing untreated wastewater into a nearby river rather tha pumping it into the city’s treatment system.

This was the tenth time the company was caught polluting.

After the last time, the city’s Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks Management Authority petitioned the city government to stop the firm’s operations.

City inspectors will soon launch a thorough investigation into the company’s environment, labour, salary and financial activities said city deputy chairman Le Manh Ha, who added that Hao Duong was suspected of wrongdoing in some or all of those areas.

He said the firm would only be allowed to resume operations after fulfilling all government requirements and regulations.

Hao Duong is a cattle leather tanning business and has four factories in the Hiep Phuoc that produce 24,000 tonnes per year.

Hiep Phuoc was originally designed to house polluting companies who agreed to move into the park. Later, it transitioned into a clean industrial park as per the city’s policies. Some tenants, such as Hao Duong, have refused to follow its environmental protection standards.

By By Tuong Thuy

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