Residents complained of foul smells from a mango-processing factory and wastewater flowing from it into the drainage ditch in front of their homes, especially during the rainy season. Following a March 13 inspection of the Khun Da Sambath Co., Ltd. factory at expressway kilometre 73–74 in Treng Trayueng commune, Phnom Sruoch district, Kampong Speu, the Environment Ministry alleged that it lacked environmental permits and was discharging wastewater outside the factory, harming the environment and producing foul smells that affected residents’ lives.
The residents raising the concerns reportedly live about 700 metres behind the factory. The ministry cited Articles 161, 173, 668 and 845 of the Environment and Natural Resources Code and Sub-decrees 42 and 103 concerning water pollution.
The ministry ordered an immediate halt to the discharge and said a fine would follow. It required compensation and environmental remediation, wastewater-treatment ponds and treatment of the wastewater before discharge, applications for the necessary permits, and improvements to environmental hygiene within the factory, including proper storage and separation of solid production waste.
Written by Nget Pisant.
