Decision No. 237/1998/QĐ-TTg Approves the National Target Program on Rural Clean Water and Environmental Sanitation

Pursuant to …;

Approving the National Target Program on Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development at the Memorandum to the Prime Minister No. 2737-TT/BNN.CBNLS dated July 14, 1998;

Based on the review opinion of the Ministry of Planning and Investment at the letter No. 6412-BKH/VPTĐ dated September 17, 1998, and the opinions of relevant ministries and sectors,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the National Target Program on Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation, with the main contents as follows:

1. Objectives of the Program:

a) In the period up to 2000: increase the proportion of people using clean water to about 45%, improve environmental sanitation, prioritize border areas, islands, ethnic minority regions, and other rural areas facing difficulties.

b) By 2005: approximately 80% of the rural population will have access to clean water; 50% of households will have sanitary latrines; treat waste from 30% of livestock sheds and 10% of craft villages.

c) Establish and gradually implement socialized policies and mechanisms for water supply and environmental sanitation, primarily in rural areas.

d) Contribute to preventing depletion, pollution, and protecting the quality of water sources.

2. Implementation Period: From 1998 to 2005.

3. Investment Funding and Principles of Use:

a) Total estimated funding: 16.4 trillion VND, including:

- State budget capital (including ODA capital): 3.6 trillion VND (accounting for about 22% of total funding).

- Other sources of capital: 12.8 trillion VND (accounting for about 78% of total funding).

This is the guiding figure to serve as the basis for building specific projects.

b) To be consistent with the characteristics of the program and to achieve the program's objectives as stated above, the use of capital must ensure the following principles:

+ Central state budget capital: mainly invested in research, technology transfer, training, surveys, supervision, communication, and construction of exemplary models for water supply and environmental sanitation in water-scarce areas and particularly difficult regions.

A reasonable portion of central state budget capital should be allocated to build and organize pilot implementation of policies and mechanisms for socializing environmental sanitation and providing clean water in rural areas.

+ Local capital: to support small-scale projects at the local level for monitoring and managing local tasks related to maintaining a clean environment and providing drinking water to the local population.

+ People's capital: mobilized to repay costs for constructed projects for the people, and self-invested by families to replicate suitable models.

+ Capital from other economic sectors: create a favorable legal environment for private individuals and other economic sectors to participate in investment and business operations related to providing clean water and environmental sanitation in rural areas.

Article 2. Implementation organization:

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead, together with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities, to select water-scarce areas in priority order, guide the development of specific projects, and submit them for approval according to current regulations. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible for proposing specific mechanisms for coordination and integration with other National Programs; inspect and urge relevant sectors and localities to implement the program.

2. The National Steering Committee for Clean Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation shall take the lead, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to develop socialized policies and mechanisms for providing clean water and environmental sanitation, gradually applying them in rural areas, in accordance with the objectives and content of this program.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to balance state budget funds for approved projects, and submit to the Prime Minister for decision to allocate within the annual budget plan indicators of relevant sectors and localities.

4. Provincial People's Committees and ministries and sectors with projects shall proactively coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in implementing projects under the program and integrating them with other National Target Programs to effectively implement this program.

Article 3The National Target Program on Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation shall be managed in accordance with the provisions of Decision No. 531/TTg dated August 8, 1996, and Decision No. 05/1998/QĐ-TTg dated January 14, 1998 of the Prime Minister; Joint Circular No. 06/TT-LB-KH-TC dated April 29, 1997, and current relevant regulations.

Article 4Ministers: Agriculture and Rural Development, Planning and Investment, Finance, Head of the National Steering Committee for Clean Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation, Heads of government agencies under the Government, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees, and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government are responsible for implementing this Decision.