Issues of environmental protection have moved from being the private affair of experts and specialized agencies to being a burning concern for any concerned citizen, particularly in developing countries as in Vietnam. These issues are creasing numerous environmental concerns which have been out of control.
Ho Chi Minh City leads socio-economic development in the country. However, the city currently is one the most polluted cities in the world.
Especially, pollution in Saigon River, the main water source for the city and 12 provinces in southern, has become more and more complicated, said Professor Lam Minh Triet from Vietnam National University - HCM City’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
Faced with the situation, the city People’s Committee has recently held two meetings to bring out measures to protect Saigon River.
With an aim to protect the environment, the city implemented some measures as strengthening to inspect and punish enterprises that damaged the environment.
Although most industrial zones and factories are built and operated waste and wastewater treatment systems discharged into the rivers, many are still discharging untreated wastewater and smoke.
Phap Luat newspaper reported that the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Pham Khoi Nguyen, said that many of the parks, especially in the south eastern region, which had had wastewater treatment systems were not operating them properly.
In addition, to restore the city’s environment, doing well environmental protection is not enough. Most citizens need to be more aware of the need to protect the environment.
Experts called for improving awareness of environmental protection through higher education and contributed various ways to bring idea into action.
The city also launched several campaigns to promote healthy lifestyle and pure environment.
Two activities targeted by the campaign – the burning and throwing of votive papers, as well as the selling of food outside school gates – had been reduced, Pro. Triet said.
The task of garbage collection in the night had been done well, making the city cleaner, he said.
Therefore, to maintain and suitable development, it is essential to promote the dissemination of information on environmental protection and encourage the participation of all citizens in this work.
Protecting the environment is an urgent task that plays a decisive role in ensuring sustainable development and political security and stability for the nation, he said.
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