Directive No. 07/2005/CT-BXD on the implementation of Resolution No. 41/NQ-TW of the Politburo and Decision No. 34/2005/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister regarding the issuance of the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 41/NQ-TW

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the implementation of Resolution No. 41/NQ-TW of the Politburo and Decision No. 34/2005/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister on the issuance of the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 41/NQ-TW

Implementing the tasks of industrialization and modernization of the country and managing urban planning, development, and rural residential areas throughout the nation, the Construction Industry has paid attention to directing environmental protection work and implementing measures to mitigate negative impacts of construction and urbanization on the environment. Implementing the Law on Environmental Protection, Directive No. 36/CT-TW dated June 25, 1998 of the Politburo on strengthening environmental protection work during the period of industrialization and modernization of the country; Resolution No. 41/NQ-TW dated November 15, 2004 of the Politburo on environmental protection during the period of accelerating industrialization and modernization of the country and Decision No. 34/2005/QĐ-TTg dated February 22, 2005 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 41/NQ-TW, the environmental protection work of the Construction Industry has seen many positive changes. The system of legal regulations, standards related to environmental protection work has gradually been perfected: The Construction Industry's Environmental Protection Strategy until 2010 was issued according to Decision No. 301/QĐ-BXD dated March 14, 2002, currently developing overall plans for solid waste landfill sites and wastewater treatment for cities. The team participating in environmental protection work at central and local levels has grown larger and stronger both in quantity and professional expertise. The environmental awareness of officials, workers, and employees has gradually improved. The quality of the environment in cities, production facilities for building materials, and construction sites has initially improved.

However, the process of urban development and production construction faces significant challenges. Urban environments are being polluted by dust and exhaust from transportation vehicles, waste from production facilities and hospitals within cities containing harmful substances. The drainage and sewage systems in cities are overloaded and severely deteriorated. The collection rate only reaches about 60-70%, causing flooding in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Over 70% of centralized industrial zones lack wastewater treatment systems. The work of collecting, transporting, and treating waste in cities still has many shortcomings, particularly in technology and land for solid waste landfill. The collection rate of solid waste in cities and industrial zones only reaches about 70% and mainly in urban areas. Management and treatment of hazardous waste generated from industrial production facilities have not received sufficient attention or investment. Urban solid waste is not sorted, thus the situation of hazardous solid waste being buried together with household waste at unsanitary landfills is quite common in cities. In craft villages, waste and dust are discharged directly into the air and the city's general drainage system without processing, causing pollution in surrounding areas and directly affecting people's health. Some enterprises focus solely on production development without paying enough attention to environmental protection work. The situation of environmental pollution at some building material production facilities, such as old vertical cement kilns, stone quarries, tile and brick production, is alarming. Some construction sites do not comply with state regulations on environmental protection, failing to implement proper shielding during construction, not properly collecting and treating solid waste, and not adequately equipping labor safety equipment, leading to dust, noise pollution, and even workplace accidents. Given these issues, environmental protection work needs to be more strongly implemented at both central and local levels.

I. TASKS

1. All organizations, individuals, and units under the Construction Industry need to enhance their understanding that environmental protection is an urgent requirement for economic and social development, economic growth, and the implementation of the contents of the Ministry's Action Program issued pursuant to this Directive.

2. Based on the Ministry's Action Program, heads of units within the Industry need to develop specific action programs for their units, plans, and solutions to implement environmental protection work and report back to the Ministry.

3. In urban planning, regional planning, and rural residential area planning, utmost importance must be given to environmental protection tasks, rational exploitation and utilization of resources, and protection of natural landscapes. When drafting and implementing planning projects, proposals for solutions, plans, funding, and timelines for implementing waste treatment works and environmental protection tasks must be put forward.

4. Focus on directing and implementing measures to reduce pollution, thoroughly addressing serious environmental pollution sources located within residential areas according to Decision No. 64/2003/QĐ-TTg.

5. Gradually socialize environmental protection work, especially the collection, transportation, and treatment of solid waste in cities, industrial zones, and traditional craft villages.

6. Research and development of advanced and suitable technologies for waste treatment must be intensified by public service units and enterprises within the Industry.

7. Enhance and improve the capacity of environmental management of units under the Industry. Perfect the system of legal regulations, standards concerning technical infrastructure and urban environmental sanitation.

8. Develop pilot projects for urban solid waste recycling, hazardous solid waste treatment, and traditional craft village waste treatment.

9. Adhere to environmental protection regulations in construction sites. Project owners and contractors are responsible for applying measures to limit pollution, especially dust, noise, and wastewater pollution.

9. Shall comply with environmental protection regulations at construction sites. The project investors and contractors are responsible for implementing measures to minimize pollution, particularly dust, noise, and wastewater pollution.

10. Regularly organize inspections and audits at localities and facilities within the Sector regarding environmental protection work. Strict penalties shall be imposed on facilities that violate and fail to comply with environmental protection regulations.

II. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

- The Science and Technology Department is the lead unit responsible for implementing environmental status reporting, environmental impact assessments, Decision No. 64/2003/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the plan to thoroughly address serious environmental pollution sources; submitting draft technical standards and environmental hygiene standards for urban infrastructure under the Sector's management to the Ministry for issuance;

- The Urban Technical Infrastructure Department is the lead unit responsible for implementing Directive No. 23/2005/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister on intensifying solid waste management in cities and industrial zones; developing comprehensive plans for managing solid waste and wastewater in cities.

- The Architecture and Planning Department guides environmental planning in regional development planning, urban development planning, and rural settlement planning.

Heads of units within the Sector must consider the strict implementation of this Directive as a key task in managing their unit's operations. Regularly organize inspections and audits, and report the results of implementing this Directive to the Ministry.

The Science and Technology Department and the Urban Technical Infrastructure Department are responsible for inspecting, urging, monitoring, and periodically reporting to the Ministry's leadership on the implementation of this Directive./.