Modernisation and industrialisation has led to more environmental violations. Meanwhile, lack of laws and policies for environment protection is a weakness for the country.
Vietnam has built a legal corridor of consistent mechanisms, policies and sanctions to deal with polluters nationwide. However, many loopholes are still found in these policies. A number of documents on land policies show weaknesses which need to be revised. Before March 1, 2010, Decree 81/2006/ND-CP on fines for environmental violations was applied. But, the fines are small and not strong enough to address the wrongdoings. Stricter fines are regulated in Decree 117/2009/ND-CP issued on December 31, 2009 by the government.
Investment in fully dealing with environmental pollution remains an important factor which needs clear regulations and close cooperation among concerned agencies. Currently, besides using state budget to settle environmental pollution cases, many localities have balanced their fund in environment protection activities. Polluters themselves have to try to handle environmental problems. According to reports from localities, to date, 108 units have invested a total VND 1.86 trillion in this area. They also take advantage of funding totalling VND607.31 billion from international organisations for 20 environment projects. Vietnam Environment Protection Fund has offered combined loans of VND43 billion at preferential interest rates for 112 projects under Decision 64/2003/QD-TTg. Environmental socialisation is necessary to tackle serious environmental violations.
Since 2006, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has cooperated with agencies to set up 30 inspection teams to carry out Decision 64/2003/QD-TTg nationwide.
In the first phase of the plan to settle serious environmental violations, by late 2010, up to 338 units have completed measures to deal with environmental pollution, accounting for 77 percent of the total. Meanwhile, 101 applied solutions to remove pollutions, including 51 units of public interests and the rest operating in the business and service areas. Thirty five among 62 cities and provinces have met over 75 percent of their goals in tackling pollutions; 23 have met 50 percent-75 percent; four at below 50 percent. Lai Chau Province has no bases which cause serious pollution.
In the second phase of the plan (2008 – 2012), departments and agencies have punished 3,856 polluters. By 2020, the country will have no polluters.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, four main principles must be implemented. First, units which cause serious environmental pollution must be dealt with strictly under the law. Second, the state needs to have supporting policies and mechanisms to execute environmental protection measures. Third, the principle “Polluters must pay” must be applied and the last is stipulating concerned agencies of state management agencies.
Although efforts to cope with 439 polluters in the first phase of the plan have not yet gained satisfactory results, Vietnam has basically completed a system of policies and mechanisms as well as sanctions on treating polluters. This is considered among the most successful results during the implementation process of Decision 64/2003/QD-TTg of the prime minster over the past time.
At an online conference to assess the implementation of Decision 64/2003/QD-TTg on handling polluters, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai hailed efforts of ministries and agencies in environmental protection activities. The deputy PM asked ministries and agencies to study and disseminate technologies to treat waste; build socialisation projects on environmental protection; boost environment inspection. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been assigned to build and integrate the project to settle polluters in national programmes to remove units which cause environmental pollution by 2020.
Do Ngoc
Vietnamese
