PM approves air quality control by 2020 plan

Motorbike drivers wear masks, even use hand to prevent dust from air in HCM City. -- VNA/VNS Photo Mạnh Linh

HÀ NỘI – The National Action Plan on Air Quality Control by  二0 二0, which aims to strictly monitor sources of exhaust fumes, especially industrial fumes, has been approved Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

The objective is to ensure healthy living for the people.

Under the plan,  八0 per cent of steel, chemical and fertiliser producers across the country will run national-standard systems to treat dust and exhaust fumes, including sulfur dioxide (SO 二), mono-nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO), and  九0 per cent of thermal power plants nationwide will install emission observation systems in the next four years.

The four-year plan also targets to identify the levels of dust pollution in urban areas and then determine the solution.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc gave the green light to the plan three months after Hà Nội’s air pollution was reported to be at hazardous levels in March, according to the Air Quality Index’s statistics, threatening the health of those with respiratory diseases and endangering public health in general.

At that time, Hoàng Dương Tùng, deputy head of the Việt Nam Environment Administration said “Air pollution in Hà Nội is a very worrying situation currently.”

To achieve the plan’s goals, authorised agencies have been told to quickly perfect policies related to air quality control, strengthen international co-operation, mobilise financial support and raise public awareness of air pollution, the plan said.– VNS