Spokesperson for the Government Mai Tien Dung has stated that investment projects failing to meet environmental protection standards will not be licensed.

Medevice 3S joint venture company's wastewater treatment system fails to meet environmental protection standards.

He stressed it is a must for investment projects to strictly comply with Vietnam’s regulations on investment and environmental protection and reiterated the Government’s position that attracting investment must pair with environmental protection.

In a written document issued on August 2 fielding issues regarding loose regulations and the monitoring of wastewater raised by the press and people, Minister Dung, who is also Chairman of the Office of the Government, asserted the management of waste water is a crucial content of legal regulations on environmental protection.

The Law on Environmental Protection and other Government decrees contains regulations prescribing the responsibility of organisations and individuals together with required procedures and process pertaining to management and collection of wastewater and technical standards on wastewater.

However, the implementation of the regulations and the supervision of the work showed signs of irresponsibility, Dung admitted, noting that the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and localities to intensify State management and continue refining legal institutions and policies to ensure loopholes cannot be created for violators.

Regarding the discovery of marine environmental pollution and illegal dumping of industrial and hazardous waste committed by Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Co. Ltd, as well as cases of pollution by a number of companies and factories, Dung said the Government regards protecting the environment is a responsibility and an obligation of every agency and organisation.

Environmental protection must be in harmony with economic development and social security, and people’s right to live in a healthy environment must be ensured, he stressed.

Therefore, every violation of environmental legal regulations must be treated strictly in compliance with laws, Dung underscored.

On July 20, the PM instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to work with relevant agencies and ministries to examine situations of pollution and the compliance to laws on the environment at industrial workshops, industrial clusters and trade villages, and propose measures to be taken.

VNA