Great efforts are being made to promote Binh Duong province to a city under central government. To achieve the target, beyond urban remodeling and upgrading of services, tourism, and entertainment, environment pollution is still a problem for active manufacturing business within residence areas.

Those businesses, mainly located in Thu Dau Mot town, Thuan An and Di An districts, are small and medium with limited potentials and backward manufacturing technology.

Therefore, wastes are not treated well, causing environment pollution and specifically affecting health of local communities. Lingering and complex appeals are originated from this problem.

The resolution is said to be re-allocation of those businesses that caused environment pollution to new places with complete environment protection infra-structure.

In the 16th session of People’s Council 7th term (2004-2010), after heated discussions, delegations have approved policies supporting the re-allocation in consideration of manufacturing delay and possible lay-offs.

Objects and implementation principles

The objects of this policy are polluting businesses that are located in residence areas and come into operation prior to the 2005 Environment Protection Code (effective from July 1st, 2006).

In period of 2010-2013, some 80 enterprises and businesses are to move to new places with concentration on highly polluting industries including woodwork, paper producing, polishing and plating, chemicals, and food processing.

To prevent pollution from happening again, businesses are required to reform production in terms of modernization and waste limitation.

The area left behind is used for tourism and entertainment or land for remodeling of parks, schools, hospitals and budget housing.

Approved policies

So as to support re-allocation, Provincial People’s Council agreed to support leasing price, costs of removal and transportation and installment of equipments, investment loan interest, pay-roll, recruitment and training of new laborers, and costs support for housing.

The council encouraged self-invested businesses to promote manufacturing without environment pollution. The support will include partial costs of equipment removal, site improvement, and pay-roll during manufacturing delay.

As for force-to-reallocation businesses that decide to terminate manufacturing, the support is equivalent to 30% of income after tax of the nearest year. The supporting amount will help them with difficulties during procedures of manufacturing termination and offer payment to laying-off workers.

As for businesses removed to new places outside Binh Duong province or outside industrial parks in Binh Duong or affected by licensing delay, the policies will support them partially.

It is hopeful that environment pollution in Binh Duong will soon resolved and improved to return healthy living environment to local people.

Reported by Nghiep – Hien – Translated by Vi Bao