Resolutely implement policies and laws on environmental protection

There are still legal gaps.

Since the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 took effect in early 2022, Ho Chi Minh City has actively implemented it by issuing many specific legal documents. Accordingly, the City People's Council has issued 3 resolutions; the City People's Committee has issued 12 decisions. Currently, relevant units are in the process of drafting 10 more documents, and at the same time developing detailed plans, programs, projects and proposals to implement the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, the National Environmental Protection Strategy and the National Environmental Protection Plan... These documents are advised and issued in accordance with the prescribed order, procedures and forms, creating an important legal corridor for State management of environmental protection in the city.

Overview of the surveillance. Photo: Hai Trieu

Despite many efforts, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee also frankly assessed that the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection still encountered many difficulties, mainly related to administrative procedures. The report showed that the system of legal documents on the environment and handling of violations, although fully and promptly issued, still lacked uniformity, causing difficulties in implementation and application. Regulations related to environmental issues are still scattered in many different legal documents.

Specifically, the lack of consistency between the Law on Environmental Protection and other laws has created legal gaps and affected the effectiveness of State management. Many provisions in the law are only principles, lacking specific guidance, leading to difficulties in the process of application in practice. In addition, some issues, although stipulated in the law, have not yet received guidance from central ministries and branches, such as guidance on PPP contracts in the field of waste treatment or technical standards on on-site wastewater treatment facilities... In addition, the environmental protection awareness of a part of the population is still limited, and the current administrative penalties are light, not enough to deter behavior change.

Propose to soon amend some regulations to suit reality

At the meeting, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee requested the Supervisory Delegation to report to the National Assembly and competent authorities on many important issues. Specifically, the city proposed to soon issue a Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 45/2022/ND-CP to suit the actual situation. At the same time, it recommended to consider amending Article 151 of the Law on Environmental Protection in the direction of stipulating that the Provincial Environmental Protection Fund is a non-budgetary State financial fund and promulgating the Law on Industrial Parks to have synchronous regulations on environmental protection activities, promoting the circular economic model and symbiosis in industrial parks.

Delegates speaking at the monitoring session. Photo: Hai Trieu

To resolve the problem of providing charter capital for the Provincial Environmental Protection Fund, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee also proposed that the Supervisory Delegation give opinions to the National Assembly. Regarding waste treatment, the city proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade consider and adjust the scale of waste-to-energy power sources in the Plan for implementing the VIII Power Plan from 123MW to at least 240MW, in line with the progress of implementing waste-to-energy plant projects in the area.

Through the discussion, the members of the Monitoring Delegation acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of departments and branches in implementing relevant policies and laws since the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 took effect. At the same time, they requested relevant agencies and units to clarify the current situation of air pollution and noise pollution; solutions to raise people's awareness in classifying solid waste at source; sanctions for violations...

The monitoring delegation also emphasized that the implementation of environmental policies and laws is not only the responsibility of the natural resources and environment sector but requires the synchronous coordination of many departments, branches, localities as well as the whole community. The city's National Assembly delegation will fully synthesize the city's recommendations and proposals to report to the National Assembly Standing Committee, serving the National Assembly's supreme monitoring topic on environmental protection in 2025.

Hai Trieu

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/quyet-liet-trien-khai-chinh-sach-phap-luat-ve-bao-ve-moi-truong-post410262.html