Four urgent solutions to improve air quality in Vietnam's big cities: Minister
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will also coordinate with major cities to accelerate the roadmap of vehicles emission reduction.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha stated four urgent solutions to improve air quality in Vietnam's two big cities at a meeting with the People's Committees of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and some government bodies on December 19, VnExpress reported.
First, development of the air quality monitoring system. The minister said that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City's governments have the responsibility to maintain and enlarge the air monitoring network. "We must ensure a sufficient number of monitoring stations to have accurate information on air quality which is provided twice a day for the public," Ha said.
Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the meeting. Photo: Gia Chinh |
He stressed that when air pollution is at the hazardous levels, the local governments must immediately warn its residents, along with recommendations for health protection measures. "In such a situation, if necessary, children need to be kept indoors. When going out, people should use standard masks to ensure safety," Ha added.
The minister proposed, as the second solution, that on the days with air pollution, the municipal People's Committees need to wash roads, enforce traffic regulation in some streets of high traffic.
"The police need to divert all private vehicles from high traffic density roads and reduce sources of dust and noise. Besides, trucks entering Hanoi city must be fully covered and washed," Minister Ha said.
Third, Ha said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will coordinate with the Ministry of Construction to issue regulations on environmental protection in construction works. Accordingly, all the projects must follow specific instructions on where to put construction materials, how to dispose waste, and how to shield the works".
The fourth solution relates to people's daily habits. Minister Ha asked the People's Committees of provinces around Hanoi to take measures to support people not to burn straw after harvesting.
The municipal governments need to ban the incineration of waste and rice straw and coal by 2021, Ha stressed.
He added that in the long term, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will continue to improve related policies and laws. The Law on Environmental Protection will consider restructuring some industries that use fossil fuel, causing air pollution.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will also coordinate with major cities to accelerate the roadmap of vehicles emission reduction. "Motorbikes and cars in big cities must have higher standards than those in other localities," Ha said and added that residents of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City should take the lead in environmentally friendly public transport.
Hanoi’s and Ho Chi Minh City’s alarming pollution has been making headlines since September. Since the beginning of the year, Hanoi has experienced six prolonged air pollution periods (on average from 5 to 10 days each), in which air quality was recorded at unhealthy levels.
Other News
- Hanoi's largest incinerator to process one million tons of waste this year
- Jan-April job growth impressive in Hanoi
- Supermarkets in Hanoi offer promotions during national holidays
- Passengers crowd bus stations in Hanoi to move away for holidays
- Hanoi takes drastic action against environmental violations
- Voluntary social security should cover larger part of informal sector: Experts
- Excellent quality goods aim further than domestic market
- Hanoi launches occupational safety action month
- Hanoi digitizes public transport ticketing
- A new lease on life for Hanoi's community library system
Trending
-
Upcoming Law on industrial park – Vietnam’s passage to attract new foreign investment wave
-
Vietnam news in brief - May 5
-
Vietnamese Government steps up efforts to develop market for carbon credits
-
Vietnam seeks more information on Cambodia’s Funan Techo canal project
-
Hanoi: The 'epic victory' of Dien Bien Phu as seen in photos
-
Hanoi strives to ensure smooth high school exams
-
Carnaval Ha Long 2024 woos tourists with fireworks and drone light shows
-
Trivial jobs: Hanoians strive to keep their old trades alive
-
Affordable, quality tours offered at Hanoi Tourism Festival 2024