HN seeks ways to reduce environmental pollution

Chairman of the Ha Noi municipal People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung

Chung chaired a meeting with relevant departments and agencies on environmental protection. The event drew the attendance of Viet Nam Environment Administration Director General Nguyen Van Tai. 

Six times of prolong poor air quality

Chairman Chung said that during the development period, the Capital witnesses yearly population expansion of 160,000 and urbanization rate increased from 11% in 2008 to 49% in 2019.Hence, it is necessary to figure out short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions to environmental issues in Ha Noi. 

The Ha Noi Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported that since the beginning of the year, Ha Noi experienced six times of poor, bad, and extremely bad air quality, especially at the time from December 8-14. 

The Department attributed extreme weather conditions, transport missions in urban areas, honeycomb charcoal, straw burning, construction destruction, transport of building materials, emissions from livestock farms, domestic wastewater treatment, and production smog. 

The Department proposed the local authorities to call upon the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to evaluate cross-border pollution; review production models with a lot of mission discharging; early issue emission standards for automobiles and motorbikes. 

Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of Ha Noi Police blamed construction projects and increasing number of transport vehicles (up 84,000 in Q4, 2019) to the air pollution. 

In addition, Vice Chairman of Bac Tu Liem district Nguyen Thi Nang Mai said that the poor air condition steamed from construction progress of metro projects, the third ring road, and others; as well as sand exploitation.    

Encouraging people to engage in environmental protection

Director General Nguyen Van Tai stressed that not only Ha Noi but also other localities are coping with environmental issues especially air pollution, domestic wastewater treatment, and water contamination. This is a big social matter. 

The Director General pointed out four reasons of poor air conditions including transport, trash discharge, different forms of outdoor burning, and large-scale construction projects. 

Chairman Chung tasked the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to install 50-70 fixed air monitoring stations; boost domestic waste collection; handle lake contamination, encourage people to get rid of honeycomb charcoal; and early put three waste treatment plants into operation. 

The Chairman suggested districts and communes call upon people to engage in cleaning up the environment at weekends; avoid and straw burning especially in handicraft villages; and launch tree planning programs. 

The city will craft a resolution on punishment of individuals and organizations for polluting the environment./.  

By Kim Anh