Ho Chi Minh City, April 23 (NNN-Bernama) Rivers in the north and south of Vietnam are becoming progressively more polluted, and steps need to be taken to avert further damage, according to a recent report issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In an effort to remedy the problem, the Government plans to strengthen coordination between ministries and local authorities and toughen regulations to protect waterways.

In the Dong Nai River basin in the south, the Government will ban leather tanneries, dying facilities and factories or industries processing tapioca, and rubber latex.

Five other sectors will also be limited, including cement, aquatic products processing, plant protection chemicals, fertilisers and paper pulp production, the Vietnam news agency (VNA) reports Monday.

Other government efforts to stop pollution will include the mobilisation of funds from foreign donors and domestic companies, strict implementation of policies to prevent new polluting sources.

Deputy Head of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Environmental Protection Department, Nguyen Hoa Binh, said the river pollution in Dong Nai River Basin would be jointly addressed by localities in all of the areas.

Citing Ho Chi Minh City as an example, he called for the cooperation of the local provincial authorities of Binh Duong to tackle river water pollution caused by the construction of the Rach Trau petrol depot project in the province.

The Cau, Nhue-Day and Dong Nai rivers have been the worst hit by pollution. The Dong Nai River basin comprises 11 provinces and cities, including six in the key southern economic zone -- Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Long An, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The high rate of solid waste pollution down-stream of the Dong Nai River was three to nine times the permitted level. The rivers have also been polluted by heavy salinisation, metals and oil.

A 10-km section of the Thi Vai River in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province is heavily polluted, the report said.

The rate of intestinal illnesses in the three districts of Binh Duong province in the Dong Nai River basin not affected by water pollution are lower than in the polluted districts, including Ben Cat, Dau Tieng and Tan Uyen.

The polluted Thi Vai River is adversely affecting marine life and limiting water supply for domestic use and production, the report said.

Most of the 77 production, business facilities and industrial zones operating along the Thi Vai River have failed to reach environmental production standards.

Only 12 construction facilities have complied with standards on treatment of wastewater.