 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
80 percent of Vietnam factories breach pollution rules: study
Hanoi (AFP) July 17, 2008 Eight out of ten factories and industrial parks in Vietnam breach environmental regulations, state media reported Thursday, citing a government study in the rapidly-industrialising country. The survey of more than 400 enterprises found many "lacked even the most basic awareness of environmental issues," said the deputy head of the Environmental Protection Department, Nguyen Hoa Binh, according to the state-run Vietnam News daily. Vietnam has seen more than seven percent economic growth for over a decade, but the boom has taken a heavy environmental toll, turning many waterways into open sewers and leaving landscapes littered with toxic waste. Binh said more than half the 418 enterprises in 41 cities and provinces inspected last year were fined for breaching pollution control rules. They included ship wreckyards and craft villages. Less than one fifth of the enterprises visited by the inspectors had waste-water facilities of an acceptable standard, the report said. Ministry inspectors are also investigating ship-builder Hyundai Vinashin for allegedly trying to dump 60 tons of toxic waste near a residential area in Khanh Hoa province last week, reported the Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Pham Khoi Nguyen said the ministry was investigating the contract between the shipyard and the man hired to transport and dump the waste on July 8, the report said. A World Bank study this month said "the cost to the economy of pollution, which is increasing in volume and toxicity, are becoming evident to the government and the public at large." Related Links Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up
Berlusconi says Naples rubbish crisis is over
Rome (AFP) July 17, 2008Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday the rubbish crisis in Naples was over, one day before his cabinet was due to hold a meeting in the southern city. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement |
