Even though authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have penalised several production units along the Tham Luong Canal for polluting the environment, most of these units continue to violate environment protection regulations.
On March 16, representatives from the Economic and Budget Commission of the People's Council in Ho Chi Minh City carried out a survey of the level of environmental pollution along the Tham Luong Canal in District 12.
According to a report by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in District 12, there are many production units operating along the canal and polluting the environment, creating a serious health hazard for those living in close proximity of the canal.
To date, the People’s Committee in HCMC has penalised more than 30 businesses for polluting the environment. However, they continue to repeat offences. Local residents have sent several petitions to Ward authorities, but to no avail as conditions remain the same.
Many of the production units are cloth dying and coal briquette units, both of which create an immense amount of dust and noise pollution in the neighbourhood.
Nguyen Toan Thang, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee in District 12, has proposed to the People’s Committee in HCMC to suspend operations of all those businesses polluting the environment.
In addition, the city should offer alternate attractive offers to polluting units to move out of their current locations and relocate their businesses elsewhere and far from residential areas, Thang said.
