The Vietnam Environmental Protection Administration (VEPA) said on March 4 that it will conduct a crackdown on hot spots of environmental pollution nationwide, especially enterprises located along big rivers, including Dong Nai, Cau, Nhue and Day rivers.

According to the VEPA, enterprises which are not located in export processing and industrial zones must ensure that their waste water discharged directly to canals meet the A-level standard.

In 2009, the VEPA inspected and handled nearly 800 violating enterprises with a total fine of 10 billion VND.

On the same day, the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zone Authority (HEPZA) announced a “black list” of 27 polluting enterprises in 2009./.