Spraying mist to reduce dust, halting road excavation permits to reduce air pollution.

The Hanoi People's Committee has instructed the Hanoi Department of Construction to guide investors and contractors of construction projects to install fixed misting systems to reduce dust in densely populated residential areas; and to refrain from granting permits for excavation of roadsides and sidewalks during the end of the year when air quality is severely polluted.

The Hanoi People's Committee has just issued a directive on strengthening urgent measures to control air pollution in the city.

The Hanoi People's Committee stated that in recent times, urbanization has increased emissions and dust from traffic, production, construction, etc., causing a decline in air quality. Particularly in recent days, extreme weather conditions (thick fog, low temperatures, temperature inversion) have caused the city's AQI to reach "bad" and "very bad" levels, affecting people's health and socio- economic activities.

To address pollution and implement Conclusion No. 244 of the Politburo , the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City requests the Department of Agriculture and Environment to inspect all solid waste treatment facilities, ensuring continuous operation and preventing the release of dust and odors.

The Department of Construction is strengthening supervision, requiring 100% of construction sites to have strict dust control measures; loose construction waste must be covered, sealed, or bagged to ensure that dust is not released into the environment; and dust monitoring systems (sensors, cameras) must be installed at 100% of construction projects larger than 1 hectare.

At the same time, instruct investors and contractors of construction projects to install fixed misting systems to reduce dust in densely populated residential areas; and do not grant permits for excavation of roadbeds and sidewalks during the end of the year when air quality is severely polluted.

"Fog cannon," a device that uses ultrafine mist particles measuring 50-150 micrometers to purify the air. Photo: Hoang Hien.

The city police are organizing a concentrated campaign to inspect and strictly handle cases of transporting construction materials without proper covering, causing material spillage, and illegal burning of industrial solid waste and household waste. In addition, it is necessary to quickly synchronize the technical infrastructure with AI-integrated security cameras and traffic surveillance cameras to support the inspection, monitoring, and handling of violations.

The Department of Education and Training instructs schools to limit outdoor activities for students during hours and days when air quality is at a "poor" level or worse; and to temporarily suspend or adjust students' learning time when there is a severe air pollution warning.

The People's Committees of communes and wards should strengthen inspection and supervision of construction sites in their areas, requiring construction units to collect, transport, and process solid waste in accordance with regulations; strictly handle vehicles transporting construction materials and waste without proper covering, and acts of burning household solid waste, burning straw, and using specialized vehicles to spray water to wash roads and suppress dust on main traffic routes.

Manufacturing facilities are implementing measures to reduce operating capacity or reschedule production processes that generate a lot of dust/emissions to times with more favorable weather and climate conditions.

Hanoi Urban Environment Company Limited and other waste collection, transportation, and treatment units are increasing the frequency of street sweeping, vacuuming, washing, and dust suppression spraying on main traffic arteries and urban gateways.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/phun-suong-giam-bui-dung-cap-phep-thi-cong-dao-duong-de-giam-o-nhiem-khong-khi-i790757/