Deputy PM Dung made the remark on July 18 in Ha Noi at a conference reviewing the performance of the natural resources and environment sector in the first half of 2016 and missions in the rest of the year.

Tracing causes of environmental incidents

Deputy PM Dung acknowledged and praised the achievements of the sector, particularly in management of natural resources, environmental protection and climate change response.

Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung at a conference reviewing the performance of the natural resources and environment sector in the first half of 2016 and missions in the rest of the year, Ha Noi, July 18, 2016 - Photo: VGP

He also hailed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) for proactively participating in the investigation for the recent mass fish deaths in the central region.

However, the management of natural resources and environment was limited, especially slow amendments  to policies and regulations in line with market mechanisms and integration process; overlapping regulations; lack of master schemes and strategies in accordance with climate change situations and new demands for socio-economic development.  

The Deputy PM also blamed the slow instruction of the sectoral database; poor equipment and weak forecast capabilities; serious environmental pollution in some areas, such as  the discharge of poisonous substances, especially in some trade villages and river mouths.  

Environment becomes development goal

In the coming time, environmental protection must be coupled with socio-economic development, asserted the Deputy PM.

“We no longer exchange environment for economic benefits,” said Deputy PM Dung.

He tasked the MoNRE to promptly conduct an investigation to review, catagorize, and control polluted causes, especially wastes of rivers and seas and recover polluted areas.

The MoNRE was asked to work with related ministries and agencies to inspect large-scale projects and vulnerable ones which would cause environmental pollution.

Deputy PM Dung demanded a comprehensive report on environmental impacts from the mass fish deaths in the four central provinces./.  

Van Hai (Source: VGP)