Decision No. 57/2008/QĐ-TTg on approving the "Comprehensive Environmental Protection Plan for the Nhué - Dáy River Basin until 2020"

 

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the "Comprehensive Plan for Environmental Protection in the Nhu River - Day River Basin until 2020"

sông Đáy đến năm 2020"

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

The Prime Minister issues this Decision amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Regulation on Response Activities to Oil Spill Incidents issued together with Decision No. 02/2013/QĐ-TTg dated January 14, 2013 of the Prime Minister.

Pursuant to Decision No. 256/2003/QĐ-TTg dated December 2, 2003 of the Government Chairman on approving the National Environmental Protection Strategy until 2010 and orientations until 2020;

Considering the proposal of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi City, opinions of the People's Committees of five provinces within the Nhu River - Day River Basin (Ha Tay, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Hoa Binh), and opinions of relevant Ministries and sectors,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the "Comprehensive Plan for Environmental Protection in the Nhu River - Day River Basin until 2020" (hereinafter referred to as the Nhu River - Day River Basin Plan) with the main contents as follows:

I. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. Addressing pollution and environmental protection issues in the Nhu River - Day River Basin is a major, regional, and inter-sectoral issue; it is the responsibility of all six provinces and cities within the basin, requiring strict guidance and investment support from the Government, Ministries, and Sectors, as well as high determination from the Party organizations, authorities, and people throughout the basin.

2. Protecting the environment of the Nhu River - Day River must start from an overall, synchronized, and unified perspective across the entire basin, closely combined with the protection of water volume and quality of the river.

3. Prioritize preventive measures to stop and mitigate environmental pollution and degradation, while gradually and effectively addressing hotspots of environmental pollution in the basin through various forms and feasible solutions.

4. Prioritize the implementation of the Nhu River - Day River Basin Environmental Protection Plan in conjunction with other related projects and programs of Ministries, Sectors, and localities within the basin.

5. Mobilize all resources from localities within the basin in combination with adequate central support for environmental protection work in the basin; promote socialization, mobilize, and attract investment resources from businesses, organizations, individuals, and international aid for the purpose of protecting the basin environment.

6. New production facilities in the basin must apply clean technology that is environmentally friendly and causes minimal pollution. Wastes from production facilities, industrial zones, and export processing zones in the basin must be treated to meet standards before being discharged into the environment.

II. GENERAL DIRECTIONS AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. General direction until 2020:

a) Limit and reduce pollution and environmental degradation in the Nhu River - Day River Basin; gradually address pollution, improve and enhance environmental and water quality, establish a stable flow system, ensure the safety and sustainability of hydraulic works;

b) Establish and complete a comprehensive mechanism and policy system to reasonably exploit, economically use, and protect water resources and the environment in the Nhu River - Day River Basin; set up an appropriate basin environmental management model to sustainably exploit and use, maintain water balance, protect the environment and ecological landscape, and effectively serve economic and social development needs throughout the basin.

2. Specific objectives until 2010:

a) Develop necessary, comprehensive, and suitable environmental management mechanisms and policies to create a legal framework and favorable conditions for environmental protection activities and sustainable exploitation of water resources in the basin; promote socialization of environmental protection activities in the basin;

b) Develop environmental plans, manage the use of water resources and hydraulic systems, unify the environmental protection plan for the Nhu River - Day River Basin;

c) Timely prevent and strictly handle violations such as dumping waste and scrap indiscriminately, encroaching on rivers to stabilize flows in accordance with natural laws and along the two banks of the river. Gradually rectify and dredge rivers, appropriately harden both sides of the river for essential sections;

d) Develop and implement a water balance plan, supplement water from the Red River via the Lien Mac sluice, save water, ensure sufficient water demand for the basin, and minimize pollution, especially during the dry season. Study plans to repair and build new reservoirs and hydraulic works to regulate floods during the rainy season and increase water reserves during the dry season;

đ) Develop and put into use a monitoring system and resource-environment database to share information promptly among provinces and cities in the basin;

e) Continue to thoroughly address serious pollution sources in the basin according to Decision No. 64/2003/QĐ-TTg dated April 22, 2003 of the Government Chairman. Achieve initial positive changes in environmental quality in the basin, gradually limit and reduce the degree of increase in water pollution in the Nhu River - Day River;

g) Compel 100% of newly established production facilities to have equipment to reduce pollution and treat waste to meet environmental standards. Encourage production facilities to adopt clean technologies that are environmentally friendly;

h) Production and business establishments currently operating in the Nhu River - Day River Basin must establish wastewater treatment systems meeting environmental standards. Strive for 40% of urban areas, 70% of industrial zones, and export processing zones in the basin to have centralized wastewater treatment systems meeting environmental standards; 50% of existing production and business establishments to obtain ISO 14001 certification. Collect 90% of household, industrial, and service solid waste; treat over 60% of hazardous waste, 100% of medical waste; 95% of urban residents to use clean water and 85% of rural residents to use hygienic water;

i) Strive to have domestic and industrial wastewater treatment systems in urban areas, capable of treating 40% of wastewater to meet environmental standards, particularly wastewater from Hanoi City;

k) Limit the use of harmful chemicals and plant protection products in agricultural production, replace them with integrated pest management methods that are safe to avoid negative impacts on soil quality, the Nhu River - Day River water environment, and public health.

3. Specific objectives for the period 2011 - 2015:

a) Complete the treatment of all facilities causing serious environmental pollution in the watershed according to Decision No. 64/2003/QD-TTg dated April 22, 2003 of the Government and newly emerging serious polluting facilities;

b) Prevent and control the degradation of water resources, implement remediation plans for heavily polluted areas and sections of the river using feasible solutions appropriate to the resources of the six provinces and cities in the watershed, especially sections flowing through urban areas;

c) Conserve nature and biodiversity, forest ecosystems. Complete the research phase, assess biological resources, finalize the planning of the system of biodiversity conservation areas, increase funding for managing national parks, expand conservation areas, and establish hierarchical management levels for each province and district by 2015;

d) Enact policies and regulations on water resource conservation and rational use. Apply scientific and technological solutions, adjust crop varieties reasonably to conserve water resources, balance water usage between upstream and midstream-lower reaches;

đ) 60% of urban areas, 90% of industrial zones, export processing zones in the watershed have centralized wastewater treatment systems meeting environmental standards;

e) Promote comprehensive socialization in environmental protection activities in the Nhu River - Day River watershed. Strive for a socialization rate of: 30% in waste collection, transportation, and treatment activities; 5% in clean water supply for urban residents; 10% in domestic sewage treatment;

4. Objectives for the period 2016 - 2020:

a) Address pollution, restore the natural green, clean, and beautiful state of the river and the Nhu River - Day River watershed; strengthen investment in upgrading infrastructure while utilizing water resources efficiently and sustainably throughout the watershed. Ensure surface water quality in the watershed meets Vietnam's standard A applicable to water sources for drinking;

b) Protect water resources, maintain sufficient and stable flow in the main river, protect existing reservoirs such as Suoi Hai, Dong Mo, Ngai Son, and construct new reservoirs to retain water, mitigate floods, and improve the ecological environment of the watershed;

c) Basically complete the construction of water supply systems, separate stormwater drainage and wastewater systems; 80% of urban areas, 100% of industrial zones, export processing zones, high-tech zones have centralized wastewater treatment systems meeting environmental standards; 80% of operating production and business establishments obtain ISO 14001 certification;

d) Collect 100% of urban, industrial, and service solid waste; treat 100% of hazardous waste, develop and promote the recycling industry to reuse collected waste, striving for 30% of collected waste to be recycled;

đ) 100% of urban population and 95% of rural population have access to clean water;

e) Complete the resource-environment database system of the watershed, unify the management of the environmental monitoring station network at both sectoral and local levels according to the National Comprehensive Environmental Resource Monitoring Network Plan, ensuring effective forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of natural disasters, flooding, and flood distribution;

g) Increase forest coverage, particularly in upstream provinces, establish combined forestry-agricultural zones along both banks of the upper reaches of the river to develop the economy for residents while planting water-retaining trees and restoring degraded upstream forests;

III. MAJOR TASKS

1. Minimize and control the increase in environmental pollution in the Nhu River - Day River watershed:

a) Supplemental investigation, comprehensive assessment of current conditions, identify causes and major pollutant sources from industrial, handicraft, agricultural, medical, commercial, service, and urbanization activities that cause water and watershed environmental pollution; evaluate the impact of environmental pollution on community health in the watershed; forecast disease models, health indicators, and surveillance measures for the entire Nhu River - Day River watershed;

b) Strengthen measures, focus on resolving remaining serious pollution-causing facilities listed in Decision No. 64/2003/QD-TTg dated April 22, 2003 of the Government. Review, supplement investigations, and apply preventive and remedial measures for newly emerging serious pollution-causing facilities, prioritizing those discharging wastewater directly into the Nhu River - Day River;

c) Develop a plan to thoroughly address environmental pollution in craft villages within the Nhu River - Day River watershed;

d) Proactively strengthen supervision of emissions from factories, enterprises, craft villages, healthcare facilities, and commercial service establishments. Implement coercive measures against serious pollution-causing production and business establishments without pollution reduction measures;

2. Preserve and protect the natural environment, conserve biodiversity in the Nhu River - Day River watershed:

a) Develop an overall environmental protection plan for the Nhu River - Day River watershed until 2020 based on the harmonious interests of the six provinces and cities in the watershed, including the following key contents: overall planning of irrigation systems, water balance, surface and groundwater extraction projects; overall planning of drainage and centralized wastewater treatment systems for industrial zones, urban areas, and concentrated residential areas; overall planning of industrial solid waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, and household solid waste landfill sites;

b) Invest in improving the irrigation infrastructure in the watershed to maintain a stable water balance, especially during the dry season.

c) Preserve biodiversity, protect the environment and natural landscapes in the watershed;

d) Promote afforestation, encircle and protect forests, especially in areas where water sources originate, combined with water retention measures and water balance adjustments. Guide the people to cultivate and use forest land in upper reaches effectively, particularly prioritizing areas along both banks of rivers.

3. Remediate and rehabilitate areas and sections of rivers heavily polluted:

a) Develop plans to address and remediate pollution in certain heavily polluted areas and sections of rivers, renovate and construct new stormwater and sewage drainage systems separately for urban areas and residential communities;

b) Implement investment projects to build wastewater treatment facilities that meet environmental standards in urban areas;

c) Rehabilitate hydraulic works, water intake structures, drainage systems, pumping stations, and dredge important river sections, reinforce riverbanks in critical sections, gradually regulate river flow to ensure stable flow.

4. Enhance organizational capacity and management for environmental protection in the Nhué - Day River watershed:

a) Complete the establishment and effective operation of the watershed environmental management system;

b) Develop and complete mechanisms, policies, and guidance documents to rationally exploit, efficiently use, and effectively protect water resources, protect the environment and natural landscapes in the watershed;

c) Coordinate regional and inter-sectoral operations of hydraulic works with other infrastructure systems; provide clean water for daily life, agricultural production, and aquaculture development, ensuring harmonious service purposes;

d) Strengthen resource and environmental management capacity of six provinces and cities in the watershed, including establishing environmental monitoring networks and forming a resource and environmental data bank for the watershed;

e) Mobilize maximum international technical, technological, experiential, and financial resources to better protect the watershed environment.

5. Construct clean water supply systems in some urban and rural areas within the watershed:

Develop, review, approve, and implement investment projects to build clean water supply facilities in some urban and rural areas within the watershed.

IV. PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN THE WATERSHED

1. Develop, review, approve, and effectively organize the implementation of twelve priority inter-regional and inter-sectoral environmental protection projects in the Nhué - Day River watershed as follows:

Group 1: Reduce and control the increase in watershed environmental pollution levels:

- Survey and inventory pollutant sources, current environmental conditions, and impacts on the environment throughout the Nhué - Day River watershed;

- Thoroughly and definitively address serious environmental polluters in the Nhué - Day River watershed according to Decision No. 64/2003/QĐ-TTg dated April 22, 2003 of the Government Prime Minister;

- Plan the management and use of water resources and environmental protection in the Nhué - Day River watershed until 2015 and orientation until 2020.

Group 2: Maintain and protect the natural environment, preserve biodiversity in the Nhué - Day River watershed:

- Invest in implementing certain schemes to improve water quality through dredging, channeling, and supplementing water in the river system within the Nhué - Day River watershed;

- Invest in implementing schemes to restore the natural and ecological environment in the Nhué - Day River watershed.

Group 3: Remediate and rehabilitate heavily polluted areas and sections of rivers:

- Invest in constructing wastewater treatment facilities for urban and industrial zones in provinces and cities within the watershed according to approved planning;

- Invest in constructing solid waste treatment facilities in provinces and cities within the watershed according to approved planning.

Group 4: Enhance organizational and management capacity for environmental protection in the Nhué - Day River watershed:

- Implement inter-sectoral and inter-provincial coordination in operating and utilizing the watershed's infrastructure systems to reduce and control water pollution in the Nhué - Day River;

- Invest in enhancing environmental management capacity, inspection, supervision, and community environmental protection activities throughout the Nhué - Day River watershed;

- Develop a monitoring network plan for resources and the environment, invest in improving the monitoring and analysis system for the Nhué - Day River watershed;

- Invest in building a resource and environmental data center for the Nhué - Day River watershed.

Group 5: Construct clean water supply systems in some urban and rural areas within the watershed: Investment projects to build clean water supply facilities.

2. The total estimated cost for implementing the twelve priority environmental protection component projects in the above Nhué - Day River watershed program is approximately 3,335 billion VND (Three thousand three hundred thirty-five billion VND), sourced from central and local budgets, the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund, investment capital from businesses operating in production, business, and services within the watershed, non-reimbursable aid, preferential credit, and support and sponsorship from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals.

The specific implementation costs of each priority project component under the Nhué - Day River watershed program will be reviewed and approved by competent authorities in accordance with current legal regulations.

V. IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES

1. Vigorously promote propaganda, education, raise public awareness and responsibility in protecting the watershed environment among community residents, all levels of government, mass organizations, enterprises, organizations, and individuals.

2. Closely integrate and incorporate environmental protection requirements, water source protection, and natural landscape preservation into the process of developing, reviewing, approving, and implementing economic and social development strategies, plans, and programs in the six provinces and cities within the watershed.

3. Strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of state management over environmental protection throughout the entire watershed:

a) Promptly establish and put into operation the River Basin Environmental Protection Committee for the Nhue-Daya Rivers with the criteria of being compact, lightweight, effective, and efficient to direct and coordinate inter-sectoral and inter-regional activities to implement uniformly the contents of the Comprehensive Plan for Environmental Protection of the Nhue-Daya River Basin;

b) Organize the effective implementation of legal documents on environmental protection issued by the State. Strengthen leadership, guidance from all levels and sectors, and enhance the capacity of the state management system for environmental protection, landscape conservation, and sustainable exploitation of the river basin;

c) Enhance regular and spot inspections of production and business establishments, promptly identify establishments that fail to comply with environmental protection regulations and violate commitments in environmental impact assessment reports and environmental protection pledges, and strictly handle violations according to the law;

4. Strengthen and diversify investment resources from the state budget, enterprises, local communities, organizations, and individuals both domestically and internationally; promote socialization in environmental protection and natural landscape conservation throughout the river basin;

a) Ensure sufficient and gradually increase annual funding from the local and central state budgets for environmental causes; strongly socialize investment resources, expand self-management models, urban and rural sanitation services to effectively protect the river basin environment;

b) Prioritize state budget funds for constructing urban domestic wastewater treatment systems, medical waste, and hospital wastewater treatment facilities, initially focusing on Hanoi City and provinces such as Ha Tay, Ha Nam;

c) In conditions where there are insufficient resources for wide-scale pollution control, delineate polluted areas for localized and thorough treatment, preventing pollutant sources from spreading widely;

d) Clearly define the responsibility for protecting the river basin environment as the responsibility of production, business, and service establishments generating pollutants. All enterprises operating within the river basin must allocate their own capital to treat pollution and restore the environment degraded by their production, business, and service activities;

đ) Priority projects implementing environmental protection tasks under the "Comprehensive Plan for Environmental Protection of the Nhue-Daya Rivers until 2020" shall be eligible for preferential loans and use of support or sponsorship funds from the Vietnam Environment Protection Fund;

5. Strengthen scientific research and technological application in environmental protection and water resource conservation in the river basin; encourage the rapid adoption of new technical advancements, scientific and technological innovations, clean production technologies friendly to the environment, and advanced and suitable waste treatment technologies in river basin environmental protection activities;

6. Promote bilateral and multilateral international cooperation with countries, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and other foreign organizations and individuals to secure capital, technology, experience, and attract investment for environmental protection in the Nhue-Daya River Basin;

VI. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Responsibilities of Central Ministries and Agencies:

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for:

- Taking the lead and coordinating with the People's Committee Chairmen of the six centrally-administered cities and provinces in the Nhue-Daya River Basin (including Hanoi, Ha Tay, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh) to direct, urge, and organize the implementation of this Plan, annually compiling and reporting results to the Prime Minister;

- Submitting to the Prime Minister the establishment of the Nhue-Daya River Basin Environmental Protection Committee, including representatives from the People's Committees of the six centrally-administered cities and provinces in the basin, representatives from the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Finance, Planning and Investment, and other relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate inter-sectorally and inter-regionally to implement uniformly and effectively the contents of the Nhue-Daya River Basin Plan;

b) The Ministry of Planning and Investment leads and coordinates with the Ministry of Finance to balance and allocate state budget funds and other sources annually and over five years to implement priority tasks, plans, and component projects of the Nhue-Daya River Basin Plan to ensure effectiveness and timely progress;

c) Relevant Ministries such as Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Construction, Transport, Health, Science and Technology, and other relevant ministries and agencies according to their functions, tasks, and scope of state management shall develop mechanisms and policies related to the implementation of the tasks of the Nhue-Daya River Basin Plan and participate in its implementation according to the division of responsibilities by competent authorities;

2. Responsibilities of the People's Committee Chairmen of the six cities and provinces in the Nhue-Daya River Basin (Hanoi, Ha Tay, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh):

- Closely coordinate inter-regionally and inter-sectorally to uniformly and effectively implement the contents of the Nhue-Daya River Basin Plan in accordance with schedule;

- Actively mobilize internal resources at the highest level to pool provincial and municipal resources to participate in implementing the Nhue-Daya River Basin Plan;

- Direct departments, branches, and local authorities to effectively implement the contents of the Nhue-Daya River Basin Plan within their respective provinces and across provinces;

Article 2. This Decision takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette;

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of the People's Committees of the cities and provinces: Hanoi, Ha Tay, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh are responsible for enforcing this Decision./.