There are still many shortcomings in implementing the Law on Environmental Protection.
Since the Law on Environmental Protection (amended in 2020) took effect, all levels, sectors and localities in Nghe An province have made great efforts in implementing management, inspection and handling measures. However, environmental protection work still has many shortcomings.
Implement synchronous measures
On November 17, 2020, the 14th National Assembly passed the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, which took effect on January 1, 2022 and replaced the Law on Environmental Protection 2014. Immediately after the Law took effect, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee promptly issued many documents to specify the Central documents for local application. Up to now, Nghe An province has issued 28 documents to direct, administer and guide the implementation of the Law's contents.
The dissemination of legal education in the field of environment has also been paid attention to by departments, branches and localities through many forms and methods of implementation. Thanks to that, the awareness of compliance with environmental protection laws of organizations and individuals has changed positively.
In the period of 2022-2024, the Provincial People's Committee has allocated 1,266 billion VND in environmental career funding for all levels and units; allocated 623.3 billion VND in provincial public investment capital for 14 projects on climate change. Allocated funding for the National Target Program on New Rural Construction: 36.54 billion VND.
In addition, the Provincial People's Committee has advocated diversifying financial resources for environmental protection, mobilizing social resources from the participation of businesses and the community. In particular, in 2023, the Provincial People's Committee continues to call for investors to implement the "Waste Treatment Plant Project in the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone with a capacity of 100,000 tons/year, total investment of 500 billion VND" and "Investment project to build a medical waste and hazardous waste treatment center in Vinh city and neighboring districts of Hung Nguyen district, capacity of 2.7 tons/day, total investment of 150 billion VND" according to the "List of projects calling for investment in the province until 2030".
At the same time, promote and publicize the investment and business environment to introduce the potential, strengths and investment attraction policies of Nghe An province to domestic and international units.
Currently, WEKOTEC Co., Ltd. (Korea) has sponsored 100% of the water quality monitoring system equipment (WECO-AiO-WQMS) manufactured by the company to serve automatic and continuous wastewater monitoring at the centralized wastewater treatment plant in Nam Cam Industrial Park and Hoang Mai I Industrial Park. Currently, the automatic and continuous monitoring line from the above two wastewater treatment plants has been connected to the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DARD) according to regulations.
The appraisal of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIA), Environmental Licenses, etc. is carried out seriously and strictly. Compliance with environmental protection laws by infrastructure investors and facilities in economic zones and industrial parks has been significantly improved. Up to now, 100% of industrial parks operating in the province have centralized wastewater treatment systems that meet environmental standards, 100% of new investment projects have had their environmental records and procedures approved before coming into operation.
Regarding waste management, according to statistics, every day, Nghe An province generates about 1,843.58 tons of garbage; the total amount of collected and treated domestic waste reaches 97.6% in urban areas and 85.15% in rural areas.
The shortcomings
It can be seen that the attention to implementing the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 in the province has had a positive impact on society, helping to improve the environment. However, there are still many shortcomings that need to be resolved.
Accordingly, in Nghe An province, violations of environmental laws still occur frequently at different levels. In the period of 2022-2024, the provincial authorities conducted many inspections and checks, thereby detecting and handling many cases and many violating establishments.
Of which, the Department of Agriculture and Environment conducted 36 inspections of 68 organizations; inspected 62 establishments with risks of causing environmental pollution; inspected and verified voters' and press's feedback on 6 establishments; guided and controlled the environment at 129 livestock farms. After the inspection, the Provincial People's Committee advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a decision to fine 3 organizations with a total amount of 670 million VND.
The Chief Inspector of the Department of Agriculture and Environment also issued 27 decisions to fine 27 organizations with a total amount of more than 1 billion VND; forced 5 organizations to pay the inspection fee with an amount of nearly 28 million VND. The District People's Committee handled 150 reports from the press, petitions and hotlines; organized inspections and fined 36 establishments with a total amount of 1,693.6 million VND. The Provincial Police inspected 70 organizations, fined 70 organizations, fined 1.610 billion VND; discovered and handled 640 cases, 680 violators, fined 8.533 billion VND...
In addition, some key environmental indicators of the province have increased slowly so far, not meeting expectations. For example, the rate of seriously polluted facilities that were thoroughly treated in 2022 was 87%, but by 2023 and 2024 it only increased to 88%. The rate of pesticide residue points with new treatment projects is 44.8%; The rate of industrial clusters with wastewater treatment systems that meet standards is only 40% in 2024; The rate of domestic solid waste treatment that meets environmental protection requirements tends to decrease: from 79.9% in 2022 to 72.6% in 2023, then slightly increase to 79.08% in 2024...
A major problem today is that the technical infrastructure system serving environmental protection is still very limited. Industrial clusters, craft villages, and type V urban areas - towns do not have separate wastewater treatment systems. Many places discharge directly into the environment without treatment. The wastewater drainage system is also used together with the rainwater drainage system, lacking clear separation.
The air monitoring system is still lacking and not synchronized. The whole province has only one automatic air monitoring station. Despite many efforts, the collection, transportation and treatment of household waste is still inadequate. Landfills do not ensure distance, treatment technology is outdated, and landfills are overloaded. The problem of spontaneous landfills still exists in many localities, especially in rural and mountainous areas...
In addition, the implementation of waste sorting at source - a mandatory requirement by law from January 1, 2025 - is seriously delayed. Infrastructure has not been invested in, people have not been fully informed, and preparation work is still fragmented.
According to the results of network monitoring in 2024, surface water quality in Nghe An province continues to show signs of pollution in some organic, inorganic and microbiological parameters; the handling of facilities causing environmental pollution and serious environmental pollution left over from history is still slow...
It can be seen that the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 is expected to be a big step forward in state management of the environment. However, the implementation is ineffective, inconsistent and slow, making the risk of environmental pollution increasingly serious, affecting people's health and sustainable development of the locality.
Therefore, in order for the Law on Environmental Protection to be effective, it is necessary to strengthen inspection and strictly punish acts of pollution. It is necessary to promote infrastructure investment and raise public awareness; authorities at all levels need to be more decisive in directing and operating; people and businesses need to raise awareness and proactively participate in environmental protection activities. Only then will the environment not become a "bottleneck" of development.
