More efforts to reduce the huge volume of dust around construction sites are being made by authorities in the capital, who are also working to reduce exhaust pollution.
The increased effort, part of a campaign initiated by the Ha Noi People’s Committee, requires more monitoring stations to observe air quality and identify the most polluted areas so a firm policy to reduce pollution can be determined.
Construction and transport inspectors will increase their work on dust prevention at construction sites and other areas while vehicles transporting building materials and construction waste will be watched closely.
The campaign aims for the creation of more public and green spaces and for public transport to be developed to discourage private transport use to lessen dust and reduce exhaust emission levels.
"The project is feasible," said the head of Ha Noi’s Department of Natural Resource and Environment, Vu Van Hau, "Significantly, sanction methods and fines will be stricter."
The committee had earlier told the Transport Department and relevant agencies to act to reduce dust and improve the environment in preparation for next year’s celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi.
Under the direction, construction licenses could be revoked and companies told to stop work if dust pollution continued. Sanitation workers were to remove rubbish, dirt and sand spread by vehicles on key streets and other high-use routes.
The head of Ha Noi’s Environmental Department, Nguyen Van Luong, said 180 of 250 checks showed dust levels exceeded the criteria for air quality.
Dust on roads such as Nguyen Van Linh, Tam Trinh-Linh Nam, Lang-Hoa Lac and Pham Van Dong was 11 times higher than allowable levels, said Luong.
"The increase of transport, especially vehicles transporting building materials and construction waste, causes the more serious pollution," he said. "Transport quality is not good and drivers are unaware of environmental protection."
Tran Dang Hai, deputy head of the Transport Department’s Inspectorate, said during the last month 160 vehicles operators transporting building materials were penalised under environmental protection laws.