On the morning of June 4, at the 7th Session, the National Assembly began a question-and-answer session on the first group of issues in the field of Natural Resources and Environment.
Questioning Minister Dang Quoc Khanh, delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (Hai Duong delegation) asked the Minister to inform about the solutions and plans of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the coming time to restore and revive "dead rivers" due to serious pollution, where river water cannot be used for any purpose, including the Bac Hung Hai irrigation system.
Delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (Hai Duong delegation) raised a question. (Photo: LINH NGUYEN)
Responding to the delegates, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh stated that the Law on Water Resources already contains provisions related to the restoration of 'dead rivers'. In fact, rivers such as Bac Hung Hai, Nhue, Day, Cau... are heavily polluted, and a 'dead river' is a river that is both polluted and has no flow.
The Minister said that recently, localities have been "active but have not been able to improve much", because most industrial zones discharge waste into these rivers.
Currently, Hung Yen province has issued its own standards to control industrial waste discharge. However, in reality, industrial clusters or craft villages have not been treated yet, in which wastewater treatment in craft villages has not been completed due to lack of resources to invest in collection and treatment systems.
Mr. Khanh also said that big cities like Hanoi discharge 260,000 m3 of wastewater into Bac Hung Hai every day, and the remaining 65% of domestic wastewater is discharged into Nhue Day. Hanoi has planned factories in Gia Lam and Long Bien with a capacity of 180,000 m3/day and night.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh answers questions from National Assembly deputies. (Photo: LINH NGUYEN)
“Localities should work together to treat wastewater synchronously. We must create a flow, the river must have a flow and circulation. At times, Bac Hung Hai canal was suspended, and the Red River water could not flow into Bac Hung Hai,” said Mr. Khanh.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to build a local pumping station for Bac Hung Hai, but this is not a fundamental solution. The fundamental solution is to retain water and regulate the flow.
In addition, the Law on Water Resources (amended) will take effect from July 1. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will report to the Prime Minister to immediately establish a River Basin Coordination Committee, which is the common responsibility of provinces and ministries and has a committee to manage and coordinate this work.
Regarding public investment, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment said that in the coming time, he will consult with the Government to report to the National Assembly in the next period of 2026-2030 to pay attention to handling these polluted rivers.
Issue wastewater treatment unit price to attract socialization
Raising the question, delegate Nguyen Van Thi (Bac Giang delegation) said that managing emission and discharge sources is an important solution in environmental protection, especially in managing water pollution.
Delegates asked the Minister to provide fundamental solutions in the coming time to properly manage emission sources and discharges from industrial parks, clusters, craft villages, as well as domestic wastewater.
Responding to questions from delegates, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh admitted that wastewater treatment is still limited, especially urban and rural domestic wastewater, and wastewater from industrial clusters and craft villages. Accordingly, to handle this problem, comprehensive solutions are needed: resources, time schedule, infrastructure investment, and attention from localities, ministries, etc.
(Photo: LINH NGUYEN)
Regarding policy institutions, the Minister said that there should be public-private cooperation to ensure socialized resources; issue reasonable service prices for businesses to participate in investing in wastewater treatment plants; strengthen monitoring and supervision work...
"Recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment inaugurated a data processing and monitoring center connecting with all localities and major waste discharge areas; gradually updating and checking to handle this issue. At the same time, strengthening inspection, monitoring and strictly handling environmental violations, especially cases of intentional discharge into the environment that do not meet requirements," Mr. Khanh informed.
Sharing the same concern about waste treatment, delegate Dao Chi Nghia (Can Tho City delegation) said that recently, the Can Tho City National Assembly Delegation conducted thematic supervision on the implementation of legal policies on environmental protection, and the management of solid waste, domestic waste, and production waste in the area.
Through monitoring, the delegation proposed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment agree with relevant ministries and branches to soon issue a circular guiding investment activities under the public-private partnership method in the fields of drainage, waste and waste treatment.
Delegate Dao Chi Nghia (Can Tho City delegation). (Photo: LINH NGUYEN)
The delegate said that this is the content that localities are in dire need of early guidance from the central government and asked the Minister to let them know when this circular will be issued.
According to Minister Dang Quoc Khanh, currently only about 17% of domestic wastewater is treated nationwide, a very low rate. Therefore, public-private cooperation and socialization in investing in urban wastewater treatment plants are very important.
"Public investment focuses on collection, while treatment needs to be socialized, because wastewater treatment must be linked to operation. If this can be done, the wastewater treatment rate will increase," the Minister stated.
Mr. Khanh said that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is currently developing a circular, expected to be issued by the end of this year, to promptly implement the Law on Environmental Protection passed by the National Assembly to facilitate the promotion of public-private cooperation and socialization, contributing to enhancing urban waste treatment.
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