Deputy Prime Minister 'orders' to thoroughly resolve 'hot spots' of environmental pollution

The Government Office has just issued Notice 255/TB-VPCP on the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha at the meeting on the Draft Directive of the Prime Minister on a number of urgent tasks to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of policy and law enforcement, and resolutely prevent and resolve environmental pollution.

The announcement stated: Environmental protection is of special concern to the Party and the State. Along with socio -economic development, environmental protection is an important and inseparable pillar that determines the sustainable development of the country. The Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws on environmental protection have been issued synchronously, creating a complete and favorable legal corridor for environmental protection. The Government and the Prime Minister have issued many Resolutions, strategies, plans, and directive documents to effectively direct and organize implementation.

However, environmental pollution is still very serious at times and in some places, especially air pollution in large cities; soil and water pollution in densely populated areas, craft villages, industrial production, business and service establishments, etc. The main reason for this situation is that the implementation is still lacking in synchronization, determination, effectiveness, focus and key points have not been clearly identified, the assignment of tasks is still overlapping and inadequate, and the principle of "6 clear" has not been ensured - clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibility, clear products, clear authority.

Create clear changes, completely handle pollution hotspots

In order for the Directive, after its promulgation, to create a strong change in the awareness, responsibility and action of authorities at all levels, people and businesses; to create a fundamental change in environmental protection work, and to completely resolve environmental pollution hotspots, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Public Security to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and localities to continue reviewing and perfecting the draft Directive, noting the following contents:

Regarding the name of the Directive: it should be brief and clear in the direction of "Directive on some urgent tasks to solve the serious environmental pollution situation".

The content of the assessment of the situation and causes should be brief, concise, and summarize the situation, level, and environmental pollution nationwide, and urgent environmental issues such as air pollution, water sources in large cities, urban areas, and environmental pollution in river basins and craft villages.

Regarding tasks and solutions: It is necessary to review and synthesize into the draft Directive the tasks and solutions that have been identified in the resolutions and conclusions of the Party, the resolutions of the Government, the directives, conclusions and directions of the Government leaders that are being implemented but need to continue to be strengthened, ensuring that the content of the draft Directive is inherited, synchronous, systematic and effective in the process of organization and implementation.

It is necessary to identify urgent solutions and a roadmap for completion to address serious pollution and environmental pollution hotspots in large cities, urban areas, river basins, and craft villages.

For tasks with legal basis (already stipulated in laws and decrees), they should be regulated according to the "6 clear" principle; for tasks that are new and not yet stipulated by law, and have a deep and wide impact on people's lives and production and business activities of enterprises, they should be regulated in the direction of assigning competent agencies to research, propose, synthesize and evaluate the opinions of relevant agencies.

Clearly define responsibilities, avoid overlap, and ensure social consensus

Regarding the assignment of responsibilities to ministries, branches and agencies, it is necessary to review to ensure that it is consistent with the assigned functions and tasks and legal regulations, according to the principle that only one agency is in charge of a task, avoiding cases of substitution, duplication and waste of resources; clearly defining the responsibility for coordination in implementation activities.

Regarding local responsibilities, it is necessary to clearly define the responsibilities of the provincial People's Committee and the leaders in developing plans, determining 5-year and annual environmental goals and targets; responsibilities in implementing, ensuring the effectiveness of legal policies on environmental protection; responsibilities for inspecting, examining, handling, and combating violations of environmental laws; establishing a monitoring and supervision data system connected to the Central Government.

For Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, the Directive will clearly assign goals, tasks, results and completion deadlines. The two cities must develop, approve and implement projects according to their authority, and are responsible for reporting to the Prime Minister on the progress of implementation. The projects need to have strong and synchronous sanctions and a reasonable roadmap, ensuring that they both control pollution and do not suddenly affect daily life and the economy. In cases where the project has a major impact on people and businesses, priority should be given to using forms of control through economic and financial instruments, and efforts should be made to avoid sudden bans and stops.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized: Environmental protection and pollution treatment are issues that require consensus and cooperation from the whole society and require time to change awareness. The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continue to complete the draft Directive in accordance with the direction, and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

Thanh Ha

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/pho-thu-tuong-lenh-giai-quyet-dut-diem-cac-diem-nong-ve-o-nhiem-moi-truong-post549552.html