The scheme “Building Da Nang – An Environmental City” for the 2021-2030 period has a total investment of more than VND 15,000 billion.
On April 19, the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment held a press conference to introduce the scheme “Building Da Nang – An Environmental City” for the 2021-2030 period.
According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the scheme is grounded in the view that environmental protection is the foundation for building an ecological city and a task at the center of all policy decisions; development must be in harmony with nature, respect natural laws, and never trade the environment for economic growth.
In terms of solutions, environmental protection will be integrated into socio-economic development strategies, plans and programs, while administrative reform will be accelerated and Industry 4.0 technologies applied. The city will proactively prevent and control pollution and tackle key, urgent environmental issues; remediate pollution and environmental degradation in combination with nature and biodiversity conservation; and proactively respond to climate change. Resources from across society will be mobilized alongside increased budget spending; the polluter-pays principle will be applied effectively, with polluters bearing the costs of treatment and compensation for damage, while those who benefit from environmental treatment and protection pay corresponding fees. The participation of the business community, socio-political organizations, communities and residents in environmental protection will be further promoted; internal strengths will be harnessed alongside international cooperation; and state management will be strengthened together with raising public awareness of environmental protection…
The scheme to build Da Nang into an Environmental City for the 2021-2030 period aims to exploit natural resources, minerals, water and forests rationally and economically, ensure ecological balance, proactively respond to climate change, and develop smart processes and systems for managing natural resources. The specific targets fall into four groups: preventing and controlling environmental pollution; improving the environment and addressing key environmental issues; conserving nature and biodiversity; and strengthening capacity and raising awareness of environmental protection... The total implementation cost of more than VND 15,000 billion is expected to come from the State budget, ODA funding and private-sector capital.
Mr. To Van Hung, Director of the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said: For Da Nang to become an Environmental City, a multi-pronged approach is needed, stepping up public communication to change residents' awareness and mobilize community involvement. Even if the city allocates a large budget to infrastructure, without the participation of businesses and residents, no scheme, however well designed, can succeed.
According to Mr. Hung, regulations on administrative penalties for environmental violations are already in place. However, actually imposing those penalties is not a simple matter. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has proactively proposed solutions and sought the City's policy guidance, such as using camera systems to detect violations, or paying residents for reports accompanied by photos to provide a basis for enforcement, with separate rewards for those who report…
At the press conference, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment also acknowledged that rapid urban development in recent years has left many consequences. Pollution at the Khanh Son landfill and the Tho Quang boat harbor are typical examples of the environmental problems Da Nang is facing.
Regarding several river and sea reclamation projects that have drawn public attention, Mr. Hung said the city has revised the park project in Son Tra into a themed park with no sea reclamation component. As for the two projects encroaching on the Han River, the city will persuade the investors to adjust their plans and retain land for green space to soften the landscape along both riverbanks. The results of the earlier international landscape design competition for both banks of the Han River have been incorporated into the city's newly approved planning adjustment.
Tien Phong