Localities asked to act urgently to tackle air pollution
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has asked the People’s Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces nationwide to roll out urgent solutions to control air pollution and promptly address any “hotspots”.
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment (MoNRE) has asked the People’s Committees of centrally-runcities and provinces nationwide to roll out urgent solutions to control airpollution and promptly address any “hotspots”.
A ministry representative noted that air pollution in majorcities, especially Hanoi and HCM City, has become worse in recent years and affectedpeople’s health and socio-economic activities.
Major contributors include vehicle emissions, uncontrolledindustrial operations, and the weather.
The ministry asked that localities strengthenenvironmental monitoring while calculating and announcing the local air qualityindex, in line with guidance from the Vietnam Environment Administration.
Localities should also publicise the air quality indexon the People’s Committees’ online portal and the media, and send it to the ministry.
When environmental pollution reaches levels that harmpeople’s health, authorised agencies must issue warnings in a timely manner,the ministry asked.
It also urged localities to request that mediaagencies use official environmental monitoring results, so that accurateinformation is provided to the community.
Meanwhile, localities should encourage local residentsnot to burn solid waste or straw but to reduce sources of emissions, whilereviewing all sources to identify and apply suitable solutions and address violationsin environmental protection.
Organisations and individuals violating the law are tobe named and shamed in the mass media.
In Hanoi and HCM City, the ministry asked the People’sCommittees to direct authorised local agencies to speed up the installation andoperation of automated air monitoring stations, while conducting regularmonitoring and keeping the public informed of the results.
The two cities should also design plans to develop theirpublic transport networks while banning outdated vehicles that are harmful to theenvironment.
It is also necessary to reduce traffic congestion whileapplying environmental protection measures on industrial and constructionactivities.
The ministry also requested the two cities supportlocal people in minimising the use of coal-fuelled stoves and guide them on howto treat straw after the harvest./.
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Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
