Developing an Air Pollution Map to Analyze and Assess the Current Pollution Status Across the Area is the First Activity in the Air Quality Improvement Program for the 2006-2010 Period Launched by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City at the Beginning of March.
The program has three main objectives: to mitigate the increase of air pollution from transportation, industry, handicrafts, agriculture, construction, and commerce; to improve air quality in several key areas and districts; and to establish a production roadmap for sectors associated with emissions, such as transportation, mechanical transport, industry, livestock, and to enhance green buffer zones around residential areas and industrial zones.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, this year, regulations for environmental pollution control will be issued. Additionally, the roadmap for using liquefied gas in retail petroleum, a list of industrial zones moving towards clean production, and clean production zones for new enterprises will also be finalized.
It is expected that by 2007, the city will complete the roadmap for transitioning to liquefied gas-powered buses and taxis; by 2008, a portion of motor vehicles will switch to using liquefied gas, and by 2009, efforts to improve air quality in key areas will be finalized.
The city has also tasked the Departments of Science and Technology, Industry, and Commerce with developing a roadmap that mandates the importation of vehicles and locally assembled or manufactured vehicles to meet emission standards (according to EURO 2) and to finalize the program for relocating polluting production facilities in the urban area.
