MONRE hands down fines for environmental, land use violations
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental (MONRE) punished 520 companies for violating environmental laws with total fines reaching nearly 60 billion VND (2.6 million USD) in 2015.
Hanoi (VNA)ꦚ – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental (MONRE) punished 520 companies for violating environmental laws with total fines reaching nearly 60 billion VND (2.6 million USD) in 2015.
Last year, MONRE received about 3,400 complaints and allegations involving violations in natural resources and environmental laws, of which 3,200 related to land use violations.
The figure was revealed at the review meeting on January 7 by Le Quoc Trung, Chief Inspector of MONRE.
The ministry performed 94 inspections and investigations with the number of organisations and individuals inspected up to 1400, a 45 percent increase compared to the previous year.
The most serious violation category is environmental contamination with 602 organisations and individuals fined more than 35.4 billion VND (1.57 million USD).
Companies violating land and natural resources laws had to pay fines of 15.3 billion VND (680,000 USD) and 14 billion VND (623,000 USD) respectively.
As many as 8,525 ha of land, along with 89 certificates of land use rights have been revoked.
About 22 companies have been banned from operating natural resource exploitation.
20 others were fined for violating water resource laws such as using underground water without licences and illegal discharging of waste water.
Another 22 organisations paid fines of 300 million VND (13,300 USD) for not abiding by provisions of geodesy and cartography.
♛ Inspections have showed that provincial agencies have not tightened the management and inspection of local projects and private sector's operations.-VNA
Enterprises' reluctance to invest in green technology and poor enforcement of environmental laws are hampering Vietnam's sustainable development, experts said.
The Vietnam Environment Administration on January 7 announced the country's biggest polluters, after inspections conducted by the agency last year revealed over 100 companies breaking environmental laws.
Ho Chi Minh City will soon launch the fourth annual campaign “Green Consumption” in a bid to improve people’s awareness of environmental protection and help businesses who invest in green technologies.
The Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment has proposed that the municipal People's Committee revoke nearly 948ha of land from 12 institutions for violating land-use regulations.
Floodwater levels in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are high and will continue to rise this month, especially in upstream areas, according to the hydraulic works management and construction department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Conservation efforts to restore habitat and boost the population of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park are finally showing progress, with the cranes and many other rare wild birds coming back to the park.
Torrential rains from the night of July 31 to early August 1 triggered flash floods and landslides across several communes in Dien Bien province, leaving at least two people dead and eight others missing.
Transitioning to a circular economy not only offers a sustainable development path for Ho Chi Minh City but also serves as a pivotal step toward establishing a fully green economy.
An exhibition featuring 100 green, recycled, and circular economy models and products from 50 businesses and educational establishments took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31, as part of the local green transition forum and recycle day 2025.
Regional solidarity and cooperation are the key factor for the effective implementation of wildlife protection regulations. Only through sustainable cooperation, innovative approaches, and collective action can biodiversity be safeguarded for the present and future generations, an Vietnamese official has said.
Hanoi has approved a comprehensive plan to restore the environmental quality and develop four major urban rivers – the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set reverine environments.
The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
Illustration photo. (Photo: VNA)
