Viet
Nam targets developing an environmentally friendly transport system by 2030 and
to control pollution caused by road, railway, inland waterway, marinetime and
airline transport.

National Highway 1A in Yen Dung District in the northern province of Bac Giang. (Photo: VNS)

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
approved a five-year plan on controlling pollution caused by transport
activities earlier this week.

Ngo Kim Dinh, deputy director of
the Environment Department, run by the Ministry of Transport, commented that the
new plan outlined necessary actions in dealing environmental problems within the
transport sector. Controlling and preventing pollution as well as reverting to
original environment to build up a sustainable green transport sector are main
objects set in this plan.

Accordingly, 18 projects
estimatedly costing about VND700 billion (US$34 million) will be carried out
synchronously from this year to 2015.

The funding was mostly from State
budget while the country also offer incentives to encourage individuals,
organisations and the private sector to support the plan and invest in green
technology in transport activities, he said.

Projects will include a legal
framework and policies on environmental management, boosting Viet Nam’s
participation in international law enforcement; managing waste generated by
transport activities; raising public awareness; and applying scientific and
technological advances.

Dinh said that a shortage of staff,
equipment and insufficient awareness were just some of the challenges facing the
implementation of the plan.

It was critical to raise public
awareness and call on transport enterprises to run their businesses with an eye
on environmental protection, he said adding that enterprises would have to
upgrade their facilities and apply green technology, not only to improve their
efficiency, but to also benefit their communities.

The plan will point out main
targets to 2015, including to have all transport enterprises to introduce
environmental and waste management systems.

By 2015, the country will replace
at least 25 per cent of its train carriages and install equipment to collect and
treat waste in at least 80 per cent of its coach stations.

It will also map out the effects of
sound in 50 per cent of the nation’s airports and recommend measures to deal
with it.

Dinh noted that in urban areas,
including Ha Noi and HCM City, transport activities contributed up to 70 per
cent to total air pollution. On busy roads, including National Highways 1 and
51, high traffic density resulted in vibration, dirt, gases and noise that
affect the lives and health of local residents. The plan presents measures to
mitigate the impact of ports, ferries and tour boats on the environment.

The master plan would pave the way
for the implementation of detailed plans for different sectors to better control
pollution generated by transport activities.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News