Urgent response to air pollution

Photo caption — Air pollution can cause major health impacts. Photo: VNA

According to monitoring data from the national environmental quality monitoring system and hydrometeorological forecasting, in the next 10 days, the Northern region, especially Hanoi and neighboring provinces, will experience unfavorable weather patterns (temperature inversion, windless, fog), reducing the ability to diffuse pollutants in the air environment, leading to the risk of increased concentration of accumulated PM2.5 fine dust (AQI exceeding 150), directly affecting socio- economic activities and public health.

To proactively control, prevent and minimize the level of pollution and the adverse impacts of this pollution, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requests the People's Committees of the above provinces and cities to focus on directing and drastically implementing the strengthening of street cleaning and implementing solutions to reduce road dust: Directing environmental sanitation units and project owners of traffic infrastructure construction to immediately increase the frequency of street sweeping and dust extraction; using specialized vehicles to spray water to clean the streets at main traffic axes and urban gateways. Water spraying and dust suppression activities should be prioritized during off-peak hours (night and early morning, before 6am every day) to ensure effective reduction of dust concentration accumulated before peak traffic hours and avoid congestion.

Provinces and cities strictly control construction and transportation activities that emit dust: Direct the Department of Construction, the Commune and Ward Police and local authorities to strengthen inspection and supervision of construction sites in the area. Require strict implementation of measures to cover and clean vehicles entering and leaving the site; suspend construction (if necessary) for projects that do not comply with environmental protection regulations, causing dust and dirt to spread onto the road; strengthen inspection and strictly handle vehicles transporting construction materials and waste that are not properly covered and spill onto the road, causing environmental pollution.

Provinces and cities strictly manage industrial waste sources and activities involving burning in craft villages: Organize reviews and inspections of compliance with environmental protection regulations for industrial production facilities, especially those with large emissions sources (cement, thermal power, steel smelting, etc.), craft villages with burning, especially recycling facilities (craft villages) in the area. Control the stable operation of exhaust gas treatment systems, ensuring environmental technical standards; encourage reduction of operating capacity on days when air quality (VN_AQI) is at a bad level or worse, affecting people's health.

Strictly control the burning of waste and agricultural by-products: Direct the People's Committees at the commune and ward levels to strengthen the management of the area. Assign the police force at the commune and ward levels to act as the core, coordinate with functional units to strengthen patrols, control, detect and strictly handle according to the law the acts of burning solid waste, straw, agricultural by-products in violation of regulations, especially in border areas and along traffic intersections.

Along with that, provinces and cities strengthen information and public health warnings: Direct the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Department of Health to coordinate with local media and press agencies to continuously update information on air quality, monitor the VN_AQI index on the VNAir application. Propagate and advise people (especially the elderly, children, people with underlying respiratory diseases) to minimize outdoor activities, exercise outdoors in the early morning and at night, and use masks when going out when the VN_AQI is high to protect health.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV/Flycam) and satellite images to monitor and detect open burning sites and large emissions and send information and images of violations to localities. The Ministry also requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct the handling immediately upon receiving feedback information, and will coordinate with localities to organize inter-sectoral working groups (if necessary) to inspect and supervise the implementation; resolutely handle violations and publicize information of violating organizations and individuals on mass media.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/cap-bach-ung-pho-o-nhiem-khong-khi-20251126100101313.htm