Phnom Penh (FN), Feb. 12 – The Ministry of Environment has announced the suspension of business operations of Win Ta Garment & Finishing Co., Ltd., following its repeated violations of environmental regulations by illegally discharging untreated wastewater into Prek Tnaot Stream.

On Wednesday (Feb. 12), a specialised inspection team from the Ministry of Environment discovered that the factory, located in Sramarng Village, Krang Mkak Commune, Ang Snoul District, Kandal Province, had continued to release colored and foul-smelling wastewater into the Prek Tnaot Stream. The investigation revealed that the company had been illegally discharging wastewater from its jeans washing process through a black PVC pipe (0.80 meters in diameter), directing the waste into an earthen drainage channel that ultimately flowed into the stream behind the factory. Video evidence from the scene confirms these findings.

Further on-site inspections at the wastewater discharge point showed that the stream exhibited a strong chemical odor and a slightly murky blue color. Residents living near the factory reported that the company typically releases wastewater at night to avoid detection.

This is not the first time that the company has been caught violating environmental regulations. Previous inspections by the Ministry of Environment’s enforcement team found similar illegal discharges, leading to a suspension of its production activities on 31 January 2025, due to concerns over water contamination and public health risks.

Given the factory’s continued non-compliance, the Ministry of Environment will suspend its production operations and impose penalties in accordance with Article 824 of the Environmental and Natural Resources Code.
=FRESH NEWS