Need for transparency in collection, expenditure and use of domestic wastewater drainage fees

(Baonghean.vn) - Continuing the program of monitoring the implementation of the Resolutions of the Provincial People's Council on the collection of some fees and charges, on the afternoon of March 30, the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council led by Mr. Tran Quoc Chung - Deputy Head of the Economic - Budget Committee conducted monitoring at Nghe An Water Supply One Member Co., Ltd.

Overview of the work

The collection, management and use of environmental protection fees for domestic wastewater according to Resolution No. 72/2012/NQ-HDND, dated December 13, 2012 of the Provincial People's Council was carried out by Nghe An Water Supply One Member Co., Ltd. in 2013 and 2014 with a total collection of nearly 9.62 billion VND.

From the revenue, the company has paid nearly 8.66 billion VND to the state budget; leaving the toll collection unit with more than 961 million VND, equivalent to 10% of total revenue.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Duyen - Deputy Director of Nghe An Water Supply Company Limited reported on the fee collection situation at the unit.

As for drainage fees for domestic wastewater according to Resolution No. 90/2013/NQ-HDND, dated July 17, 2013 of the Provincial People's Council, the company has been collecting since March 2014 with total revenue up to the end of 2014 being more than 9.1 billion VND. Of which, 95% is paid to Vinh Urban Infrastructure Development Investment Company; 5% is left for the fee collection unit.

Deputy Head of the Economic and Personnel Department Tran Quoc Chung requested the Company to clarify a number of related issues.

At the meeting, the monitoring delegation requested Nghe An Water Supply One Member Co., Ltd. to clarify the use of 10% environmental protection fee for domestic wastewater and 5% drainage fee for domestic wastewater that are left for the unit.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang - Chairman and Director of Nghe An Water Supply Company Limited explained some issues of concern to the monitoring delegation.

The monitoring team also raised the issue of whether there was a loss of revenue from the two types of fees mentioned above; to clarify the reason why the collection of domestic wastewater fees according to Resolution No. 90 of the Provincial People's Council and Decision No. 43, dated August 19, 2013 of the Provincial People's Committee (this decision takes effect after 1 month) but the collection of these fees was only implemented in March, causing a loss of budget revenue. The collection of environmental protection fees for domestic wastewater and drainage fees for domestic wastewater has long been implemented only for users of tap water, but for users of water from wells, drilled wells or natural sources, has the collection been implemented or not and which unit is responsible...

Minh Chi