Pollution levels in the Dong Nai River have been increasing steadily since 2007, affecting the development of 16 southern provinces and its 16 million residents, according to the HCM City Natural Resources and Environment Department.
Pollution levels in the Dong Nai River have been increasing steadily since 2007, affecting the development of 16 southern provinces and its 16 million residents, according to the HCM City Natural Resources and Environment Department.
The city's Preventive Medicine Centre has issued many warnings about the pollution levels, which have affected the quality of water supply for local residents.
"The cost of treating polluted water from Dong Nai river is very high, and that is impossible at this time," Truong Khac Hoanh, deputy general director of the Thu Duc Water Supply Joint Stock Company, was quoted as saying by the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper.
The city has found that the level of some micro-organisms and pollutants is 1.5 – 73 times over permitted standards.
Pollution comes from waste water from industry, breeding farms and hospitals in HCM City's Cu Chi and Hoc Mon districts, Binh Duong Province's Thu Dau Mot town and Dong Nai Province's Bien Hoa city.
"Most of the waste water is discharged directly into the river without any treatment. In addition, oil spills and environmental accidents worsen the quality of water," said Tran Nguyen Hien, head of the HCM City Environmental Protection Agency.
Professor Lam Minh Triet of the Natural Resources and Environment Institute said that "the most important thing is the close co-operation of provinces in seeking a balance between economic development and environmental protection."
Several downstream provinces like HCM City as well as Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces had refused to allow high-polluting industries, like textiles, dyeing and paper factories, to locate in their areas.
However, upstream provinces continue to welcome such industries for economic development.
Officials in upstream provinces like Dac Nong and Dak Lak said they were reluctant to take measures that would protect forests in order to serve the environment protection work of downstream provinces but limit their ability to attract investment for themselves.
They said they were trying to improve economic growth and narrow the development gap between upstream and downstream provinces.
(Source: VNS)
