Ho Chi Minh City: Accelerating environmental infrastructure, stopping pollution at hot spots

Ho Chi Minh City is focusing on accelerating investment in environmental protection infrastructure and wastewater treatment.

Implementing the provincial planning approved by the Prime Minister , the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City has just issued a document requesting the Department of Industry and Trade, the Management Board of Export Processing and Industrial Zones, the Management Board of High-Tech Parks, the People's Committee of Thu Duc City and 21 districts to proactively develop plans and organize the implementation of synchronous investment in environmental protection infrastructure in urban areas, concentrated residential areas, craft villages and industrial clusters.

Accordingly, relevant units need to arrange land funds and implement investment procedures, upgrade environmental protection infrastructure according to approved planning; ensure timely completion of projects and tasks on environmental protection in river basins.

The city aims to have 92% of industrial parks and 60% of industrial clusters with centralized wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure meeting environmental technical standards by December 31, 2025; 100% of craft villages generating production wastewater have centralized wastewater collection and treatment plans; 50% of wastewater from craft villages is collected and treated. At the same time, the flow of rivers flowing through urban areas, especially pollution hotspots on the Saigon River (from the Thi Tinh River mouth downstream); and completely resolve the pollution situation at the border line on Ba Bo Canal and Suoi Cai area (including Suoi Nhum - Suoi Xuan Truong - Suoi Cai).

The City Department of Transport and Public Works is assigned to mobilize all resources to implement projects to collect and treat domestic wastewater from residential areas, craft villages, industrial parks and clusters; proactively propose solutions and policies to support the collection and treatment of wastewater in scattered residential areas. The goal is that by December 31, 2025, 30% of urban domestic wastewater will be collected and treated; 40% of rural domestic wastewater will be treated by appropriate centralized or decentralized measures.

The city also aims to effectively operate drainage projects, wastewater treatment, water environment improvement and restoration, contributing to unclogging the flow, especially in river sections passing through urban areas, pollution hotspots on the Saigon River.

The Department of Finance is assigned to call for and attract investment capital for projects on domestic wastewater treatment in urban areas and concentrated residential areas, with priority given to urgent projects. The Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board coordinates closely to overcome existing problems and promptly put into operation projects to ensure drainage and pollution treatment in the Ba Bo Canal, Suoi Nhum - Suoi Xuan Truong - Suoi Cai areas.

Thu Duc City People's Committee and District People's Committees are responsible for compiling a list of waste sources with a flow of 200m³/day and night or more into the river basin for strict control; at the same time, report the results of inspections and examinations of activities related to environmental protection in the area according to their authority.

Ngoc Quyen

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-day-nhanh-ha-tang-moi-truong-chan-o-nhiem-tai-nhung-diem-nong-post409810.html