BEIRUT, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese caretaker Industry Minister said Wednesday that his ministry has closed 27 factories that do not comply with environmental standards since the start of this year, national news agency NNA reported.
Hussein Hajj Hassan said that the industrial waste has a tremendously negative impact on the Litani River, an important water resource in southern Lebanon.
There are over 150 farms using Litani's polluted water to irrigate crops though the Litani is no longer suitable for swimming or irrigation.
The serious water pollution are affecting the farmers, residents and businesses as the Litani extends from the West Bekaa Valley all the way down to the southern districts of Nabatieh and Tyre.
On Sept. 4, the ministerial committee, which is responsible to address the Litani River pollution, approved the establishment of an emergency committee to take over the river's cleanup effort.
