(VOVworld) - With Vietnam’s robust economic development, environmental pollution is increasing. Natural resources which are not well managed and used properly pose considerable risks for the effort to protect the environment. Balancing economic growth and environmental protection is the crucial challenge of sustainable development. 

Rvers are increasingly polluted by industrial production Source: tintuc.timnhanh.com.vn

According to the World Bank’s environmental research, Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi are among Vietnam’s 10 most polluted provinces and cities. Environmental pollution is considered the biggest challenge to industrialization, modernization and urbanization in Vietnam. Hoang Duong Tung, deputy head of the General Environment Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment talked to us about the impact of economic development on the environment: "In recent years, we have maintained an economic growth rate of more than 7 percent per year. A number of economic and industrial zones have been set up and developed, but enterprises have not paid due attention to environmental protection. Many areas were seriously polluted and the Thi Vai river is one example. Lack of a waste water treatment system has resulted in the pollution of many rivers. In urban areas, the air is polluted due to increasing numbers of vehicles. Meanwhile, in rural areas, craft village operations also cause environmental pollution".

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, vehicle emissions and industrial production release 85 percent of all CO and 95 percent of all Volatile Organic Compound or VOCs. Apart from emissions from vehicles and industrial zones, solid waste and waste water are also key contributors to air and water pollution. Many industrial zones and residential areas still lack waste treatment systems. Mr. Tung says more oversight is needed at industrial and processing zones: "We have examined production sites, industrial zones and especially centralized waste water treatment systems. Enterprises are asked to install automatic Multi Parameter Water Analyzer Systems and publish the results of the analysis to discourage violations".

Vietnam saw considerable progress in environmental protection following its Environment Protection Strategy from 2001 to 2010, but, more needs to be done. Mr. Tung: "First, we need to complete a legal system with more specific provisions on environmental protection. Second, we should increase enforcement of those provisions and apply tax and other incentives to limit environmental pollution. Finally, we need to raise public awareness and responsibility among individuals and enterprises for environmental protection".

Vietnam now has more than 250 industrial, shipping and processing zones and thousands of craft villages. Specific planning for those zones should include effective policies for sustainable development.

Kim Chi