Ho Chi Minh City has had 698 new polluting production establishments since 2008 while it has yet removed all old polluters, reported deputy director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Van Phuoc on Tuesday.
Reporting to the Economics-Budget Committee under Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, Mr. Phuoc said that after the 2003-2007 relocation program ended, 1,400 polluters have been shifted out of urban areas, transferred into new or less-polluting industries and some have been forced to stop operation.
Six remaining firms have not been handled including Viet Hung fish Sauce, Saigon Textile and Dying, Gia Dinh Garment, Binh Loi Shipbuilding, Thang Long Paper and Ha Tien Cement companies.
Meantime, HCMC has seen another 698 establishments causing environmental pollution or being built off the city's plan since 2008. Most of them are located in districts Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon, Binh Tan and 12.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment said it would evacuate 24 polluting establishments from District 12 by 2016.
From the following year, they would continue relocating 177 badly polluting businesses, 116 slightly polluting and off-plan ones, and 405 outside planning.
The evacuees are expected to relocate in Hiep Phuoc, Le Minh Xuan 3, Dong Nam and An Ha industrial zones.
