The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy has just issued a decision on promulgating a Plan to implement Directive No. 02/CT-TTg dated January 24, 2025 of the Prime Minister on urgent solutions to strengthen the control and handling of water pollution in some basin areas of Cau River, Nhue - Day River basin, Dong Nai River basin and Bac Hung Hai irrigation system.
Guidelines for localities in inventorying waste sources
According to the decision, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will guide localities to compile statistics and classify waste sources in the area that affect the water quality of river basins, make a list (according to the type and scale of discharge) to strictly control and send a list of waste sources to the ministry for synthesis.
Compile a list of waste sources with a wastewater discharge flow of 200 m/day and night or more into river basins that need to be strictly controlled.
Organize inspections and examinations of establishments granted environmental licenses by ministries in river basins; synthesize the results of inspections and examinations in river basins, and report to the Prime Minister.
Review and complete the monitoring network on river basins to monitor water quality developments, identify polluted areas and propose solutions.
The decision also stated that the assessment of the impact level from agricultural production activities to the water environment in river basins; Develop and adjust the operation process of Bac Hung Hai irrigation work system towards synchronously, ensuring the maintenance of minimum flow continuously in the system, completed before June 30, 2025.
Along with that, draft a water quality management plan for river basins and submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation water quality management plans for river basins that play an important role in socio-economic development.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment plans to develop 3 pilot projects to improve and restore degraded, depleted and polluted water resources in the Nhue - Day, Cau rivers and the Bac Hung Hai irrigation system, and submit them to the Prime Minister for consideration and promulgation.
Criminal prosecution for acts causing serious pollution
Another content of the decision is to review, guide, direct, and organize the implementation of scientific and technological solutions, models of agricultural cultivation, aquaculture, sustainable seafood processing, reasonable use of resources, reuse wastewater, and avoid pollution of river basins; research and application of scientific and technological solutions in monitoring developments in water quality.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will coordinate with ministries to implement Directive No. 02/CT-TTg. In particular, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will also closely coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to strictly handle and publicize some typical cases of intentional delay and non-compliance with the law on environmental protection in river basins; consider criminal handling of acts of intentional discharge of waste causing serious pollution.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will coordinate with localities to guide, inspect, and urge localities to implement measures to control large sources of waste; promptly notify relevant agencies and units to regulate water supply activities, create resources to increase the ability of rivers to self-cleanse in case of low water levels and poor circulation.
