Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha at the Question-and-Answer session (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Natural Resources andEnvironment Tran Hong Ha was grilled about serious pollution in Nhue and Dayrivers at the National Assembly on October 30, the first day ofQuestion-and-Answer at the NA’s on-going 6th session.
The minister said pollution of rivers, especially thoseflowing across several localities, should be addressed at the root of theproblem.
Therefore, he said a master plan is needed for solvingpollution in river basins, including the two rivers mentioned by the NAdeputies.
The minister also urged local administrations to conductsurveys on sources of waste discharge and select suitable models for treatmentin the direction of mobilising investment from all economic sectors.
He also noted the need to clarify the State’s responsibilityfor investing in infrastructure and assessing companies’ technology andcapacity in waste treatment. The mechanism for calculating waste treatmentcosts also needs to be revised.
Asked about solutions to pollution at industrial parks andclusters and craft villages, Minister Ha said his ministry has required industrialparks to work out their roadmap for building concentrated waste water treatmentfacilities. However, the problem at industrial clusters remains a headache dueto limited human resources and investment in waste treatment.
According to the minister, the management of industrialclusters should be intensified as many production facilities using backwardtechnology, particularly those involved in waste recycling, have been moved tothose clusters in the recent past.
He said his ministry, along with the Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development, will conduct more inspections and checks with a view torevising environmental standards and criteria for industrial clusters and craftvillages.-VNA
