Proposal to ensure the principle that polluting people must pay
On October 28, continuing the 10th Session, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the results of the thematic supervision "Implementation of policies and laws on environmental protection (EIA) since the 2020 EIA Law took effect".
Delegate Nguyen Tam Hung (HCMC delegation) basically agreed with the content of the report of the Supervisory Delegation and the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on the topic of implementing legal policies on health insurance since the Law on Health Insurance took effect (Resolution).
However, according to the delegate, the pollution of wastewater and urban flooding, fine dust in the air is becoming a major challenge in big cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The delegate suggested that the National Assembly consider determining that the resolution should stipulate mandatory targets with a clear roadmap, along with a mechanism for assigning responsibility to leaders if not achieved.
The final handling of facilities causing pollution and serious impacts that have not met requirements is recommended to assign a completion deadline before 2026, and at the same time, applying supplements with slow-processing facilities to ensure the principle that polluting people must pay.
Regarding waste classification at source and the responsibility of extending the manufacturer, the implementation roadmap is still slow and lacks synchronous infrastructure.
The delegate of Ho Chi Minh City proposed that the National Assembly consider the regulation of mandatory classification of at least three types of waste for organic and recycling, and the rest starting from January 1, 2027. At the same time, pilot a mechanism for paying fees by volume in special urban areas, supporting poor households.
Regarding the improvement of the law, delegate Nguyen Tam Hung approved the policy of amending the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 at the beginning of the next term.
However, it is necessary to immediately amend some contents of classifying household waste, environmental service business conditions, carbon floor legal framework and strongly decentralize to the commune level in environmental inspection management at the grassroots level.
Create a specific mechanism, encourage private investment participation
Meanwhile, delegate Ly Anh Thu (An Giang delegation) pointed out that the current BVMT technical infrastructure system is still unsynchronized, broken and has not been properly prioritized for investment.
According to the delegate, many localities lack wastewater and solid waste treatment systems, especially in rural areas and craft villages. Environmental treatment works are often behind other socio-economic infrastructure projects such as transportation, schools, and hospitals. The capital allocated is small and prolonged; the planning, land fund and investment attraction mechanism are still inadequate.
To overcome shortcomings and meet the requirements of sustainable development, delegate Ly Anh Thu suggested that it is necessary to identify investment in BVMT technical infrastructure as essential infrastructure, on par with other socio-economic infrastructure.
Projects on wastewater collection, treatment, solid waste, and environmental restoration must be ranked in priority order in the medium-term public investment portfolio and linked to the development targets of each industry and each locality.
It is necessary to review and count environmental infrastructure projects that are behind schedule or lack capital to have a plan to completely resolve the issues of capital, land fund, planning and investors.
At the same time, create a specific mechanism to attract social resources, encourage the private sector to participate in investing, managing and operating waste treatment systems.
