Committee for Science, Technology and Environment under the National Assembly and the authorities of the southern province of Dong Nai have decided to relocate Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Zone (IZ), for being the source of rising pollution in the Dong Nai River.
Dong Nai Province has held talks with businesses in the IZ and found that most of them agree to closing the IZ and converting it into a modern trade and services area, saying it would be more suitable in the current context.
The Province has already built the 528 hectare Giang Dien IZ, which is located 20km from Bien Hoa 1 IZ, for businesses to relocate to. If they want to relocate to other IZs like Ong Keo or Long Thanh, the province will create the most advantageous conditions for them to do so.
Total capital for the relocation of Bien Hoa 1 IZ is estimated at around VND15 trillion (US$708.45 million).
Pollution has been worsening in the Dong Nai River, which supplies water to more than 20 million residents in the lower reaches.
Bien Hoa 1 IZ is one of the largest polluting sources and as a result, many agree to the move to relocate the IZ to save the river.
The IZ has 97 companies who are discharging more than 9,000 cubic meters of wastewater everyday, but only 1,100 cubic meters is being treated at wastewater treatment systems in the Bien Hoa 2 IZ.
The remaining 7,900 cubic meters is flowing directly, untreated and unchecked into the Dong Nai River.
