Sonadezi Company penalized for polluting environment

08/10/2011 13:17

The Environment Protection Department under the Ministry of Public Security announced Friday that the Sonadezi Company will be penalized VND405 million for releasing untreated wastewater into the environment.

File photo shows wastewater at Sonadezi (Photo: SGGP)

Sonadezi in Long Thanh Industrial Zone in the southern province of Dong Nai will be penalized VND405 million (US$19,000) for releasing untreated wastewater into the Dong Nai River.

Environment officials investigating Sonadezi uncovered in early August this year that the company was dumping untreated wastewater into the Ba Cheo Canal which flows into the Dong Nai River.

The company was found discharging about 5,000-10,000 cubic meters of wastewater, 5-10 times in excess of permitted levels, into the Dong Nai River each day.

Sonadezi was also not operating its wastewater treatment plant as per regulations set by the environment impact report, which was earlier approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Environment Protection Department is also compelling Sonadezi to implement stricter measures to protect the environment. The company has been asked to operate its wastewater treatment facility regularly and in the right manner and also ensure that the wastewater be treated in compliance with national standards. Automatic monitoring devices should also be installed at sluice gate exits.

Nguyen Van Tuan, general director of the Sonadezi Company has agreed to pay the penalty and pledged to take responsibility of cleaning the present damage caused, as soon as possible.

The Environment Protection Department has also warned authorized organizations of the alarming rise of environmental violations by businesses and industrial zones, asking them to regularly inspect and uncover suspected cases.