A channel behind a textile industrial park in Hung Yen Province, northern Vietnam has been increasingly polluted over the past few years, causing havoc to the daily lives and production activities of local residents.

The foul smell from the contaminated channel, which is adjacent to the Pho Noi B textile industrial park in My Hao Town, permeates almost every corner in the area.

The awful odor gets more intense during sticky, humid or windy days, according to Tien, a 51-year-old local man.

The wastewater channel runs through multiple residential areas and rice fields before entering the Bac Hung Hai irrigation canal, adding that it has affected many abandoned plots of farming land.

Murky wastewater in the contaminated channel. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters tried to contact local authorities, including the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, for their comments on and solutions to the issue but received no response.

In related news, the provincial administration on April 10 levied an administrative fine of VND350 million (US$13,800) on Dai Hoa Textile-Garment Company, located in the Pho Noi B industrial park, for discharging wastewater into the rainwater drainage system in the area.

The company, whose legal representative is a Chinese national named Huang Yifeng, was also asked to take remedial actions as per prevailing regulations.

On July 25 last year, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha demanded that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment direct its subordinate agencies to jointly deal with water pollution in the Bac Hung Hai irrigation canal and must avoid shifting responsibilities.

Wastewater from the Pho Noi B textile industrial park is discharged into the channel. Photo: Tuoi Tre

No creatures can survive in such a polluted channel. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The contaminated channel runs along a local middle school and a medical center in My Hao Town, Hung Yen Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The wastewater channel has wreaked havoc on the lives and livelihoods of local inhabitants. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A rainwater storage reservoir inside the Pho Noi B textile industrial park in My Hao Town, Hung Yen Province, northern Vietnam also has an awful odor. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The Bac Hung Hai irrigation canal, which runs through many parts of Hung Yen Province, northern Vietnam, is polluted with wastewater. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!