The stretch of the Dong Nai River that runs through Bien Hoa city of Dong Nai province (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Natural Resourcesand Environment Tran Hong Ha has proposed exempting charges on businesses for grantingrights to exploit water resources for half a year, estimated at 600 billion VND(over 25 million USD), or for a year.
The move aims to spur socio-economic development andassist businesses in the wake of the raging COVID-19 pandemic and the severedrought in the central and central highlands region and saltwater intrusion in theMekong Delta.
In a proposal sent to the Prime Minister, Ha alsorecommended extensions on charges for granting mining rights this year andreductions on environmental fees for service providers impacted by the pandemic.
He also called for a 20 percent cut in charges for assessingthe granting of permits to explore, exploit, and use water resources, andexemptions from land use taxes for businesses.
Other proposals included the export of certain mineralssuch as those exploited from socio-economic projects (white sand), atsmall-scale mines, and in disadvantaged areas where transportation to concentratedprocessing facilities remains troublesome.
Ha appealed to the PM to spend part of theenvironmental fund purchasing protection equipment for health workers and forcesworking at COVID-19 quarantine centers and improving the capacity for handling hazardousmedical waste./.
VNA
