According to the latest current regulations of Vietnam, what requirements do we need to meet for environmental protection of rural, urban areas and residential areas? Which agency is responsible for environmental protection?
Environmental protection
What is environmental protection in rural, urban areas and residential areas according to the law of Vietnam?
Article 58 of the Law on Environmental Protection of Vietnam stipulates the rural environmental protection, as follows:
- Requirements for rural environmental protection:
+ Organizations, households and individuals involved in handicraft production, agricultural production and processing must adhere to the planning and regulations of law on environmental protection without affecting ambient environment quality; waste must be collected, reused and treated in accordance with environmental protection requirements;
+ Rural residential clusters must have water drainage systems and take appropriate measures for waste treatment; waste aggregation points must be properly located; domestic animals must not be pastured in public places; autonomy in environmental protection is encouraged;
+ Landscapes, trees, lakes, ponds and surface water ecosystems; water sources must be preserved, protected, remediated and improved;
+ Waste generated in rural areas must be managed in accordance with law; organic domestic waste, waste generated from livestock production and processing, and agricultural by-products must be recalled, reused or used as production materials;
+ Rural environmental quality must be monitored and assessed; pollution areas must be determined, zoned, dealt with, improved and remediated and measures must be implemented to improve environmental quality.
Which agency of Vietnam is responsible for rural, urban, and residential environmental protection?
Article 58 of the Law on Environmental Protection of Vietnam stipulates:
- Responsibility for rural environmental protection:
+ Communal People’s Committees shall statistically report and manage types of domestic waste, agricultural waste and handicraft industry waste generated within their communes; organize activities aimed at maintaining environmental hygiene and improving rural landscape; promulgate regulations on autonomy in environmental protection in rural areas;
+ District-level People's Committees shall manage production, business operation and service provision in accordance with environmental protection regulations according to the approved planning; manage waste collection and treatment within their districts; invest in and upgrade systems for wastewater drainage and treatment systems, solid waste collection and treatment in rural areas; organize monitoring and assessment of changes in environmental quality; zone, deal with, improve, remediate and improve environment in pollution points and areas in rural areas;
+ Provincial People’s Committees shall provide directions and resources for rural environmental protection; direct and organize treatment of waste generated in rural areas; promulgate and provide guidelines for application of policies on provision of incentive and assistance for waste treatment, landscaping and environmental protection in rural areas;
+ The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in providing guidelines for satisfying criteria for rural environmental protection, implementing measures for waste collection and treatment, monitoring changes in environmental quality, dealing with pollution and improving and remediating environment in rural areas;
+ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall provide guidelines for collecting and treating livestock waste and agriculture by-products to be reused for other purposes; preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in formulating and organizing the execution of rural development programs, projects, mechanisms and policies in association with the objectives for environmental protection and climate change adaptation;
+ The Prime Minister shall lay down criteria for environmental protection in rural development.
Environmental protection of urban areas and residential areas
Pursuant to Article 57 of the Law on Environmental Protection of Vietnam stipulating environmental protection of urban areas and residential areas:
- Environmental protection of urban areas and high density residential areas shall must ensure sustainable development associated with sustention of natural, cultural, historical elements, the ratio of green space, and satisfaction of requirements concerning landscape and environmental hygiene according to the planning.
- Urban areas and high density residential areas shall satisfy environmental protection requirements. To be specific:
+ Water supply and drainage networks and public sanitation facilities must satisfy environmental protection requirements; wastewater collection and treatment systems must be consistent and conformable with the approved planning; if such urban areas and high density residential areas are form before the effective date of this Circular but fail to provide land for construction of wastewater collection and treatment systems, they shall comply with Point c Clause 5 Article 86 of this Law;
+ Equipment, vehicles and places for classifying solid waste at source, collecting and storing domestic solid waste must suit the quantity and type of waste generated from households and individuals in the urban areas and high density residential areas;
+ The green space, water surface and open space are present in urban areas and high density residential areas as prescribed by law.
- Parks, flower gardens, trees, water surface, public roads and natural ecosystem must be protected, preserved and renewed in accordance with requirements concerning aesthetics and environmental protection and must not be encroached upon, leveled or used for wrong purposes.
- Residential areas and residential clusters must designate a pollution-free place for temporary storage of domestic solid waste before being transported a designated place for treatment as prescribed.
- Investors in urban areas and high density residential areas must comply with the environmental protection requirements specified in Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this Article.
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