Total Project Cost: $232,000

PEF Financing: $200,000

Approval Date: 5 November 2010

Main Project Partner(s): Pollution Control Department

Project Officer: Januar Hakim, VRM

Type of Intervention: Analytical study

Status: Ongoing

Summary:
The overall objective of the project is to reduce environmental pollution in Viet Nam by improving existing legislation related to environmental fees for wastewater discharge. It resulted in a set of recommendations for amendments or modifications to the existing legislation and the supporting regulations. In particular, the project addressed some of the deficiencies of two government decrees (Decrees 67 and 88), including difficulties in the measurement of pollutants and in the procedure for appraisal and collection of the fees.

Poverty-Environment Linkage:
One of the most significant environmental problems in Vietnam is water pollution. Only 30% of industrial parks have centralized wastewater treatment systems, while municipalities can treat only 10% of their domestic wastewater. The large daily load of untreated wastewater discharged into natural water bodies is causing adverse effects on the environment. The poor suffer the most, as they often live near rivers and streams polluted by industrial activities and lack access to safe and affordable water supplies. Thus, they are easily exposed to many types of waterborne diseases, such as typhoid, intestinal parasites, and diarrhea.

Expected Outputs/Outcomes:

• Report with an assessment of the impact of Decree 67, its current implementation, with gaps, inadequacies and difficulties defined, and proposal for improvement
• Report on international experiences and practices in the field of wastewater charges
• Guideline on a new calculation method and procedure for collection, appraisal, circulation and use of wastewater charge
• Report on the pilot application of the new method and procedure, with all comments and feedbacks of relevant localities, ministries and sectors
• Recommendations on removing inconsistencies in the application of Decree 88 and Decree 67

Related Documents:

• MEPR Proposal