City Report and Action Plan of Danang

Mr. Dung Viet Dang
Director,
Department of Transportation and Public Works,
Danang People's Committee
Vietnam

CONTENTS

1. City Report

1.1. Administrative Organizations and Duties for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection

Since urban planning and environmental protection cover a wide range of issues, they are handled by multiple organizations including the following.

• Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), a body of the Danang People's Committee, serves as an administrator of land, housing and maps.
• Department of Construction (DOC): A specialized unit of the People's Committee, assists the People's Committee in implementing State administration of the industrial and civil construction field devising the details and master plan for urban and rural areas, as well as designing and construction at all levels.
• Department of transportation and public works (DOTPW): A specialized unit of the People's Committee, assists the People's Committee in implementing State administration of the transportation, infrastructure, construction, urban management and environment.

1.2. Environment in Urban Policy Making

The legislative context for environmental management already exists. Based on the Constitution of Vietnam, there are a number of laws and other codes related to environmental protection such as:

• Law on Environmental Protection
• Law on Forest Protection and Development
• Law on Land
• Law on the Protection of People's Health

Specific instruments are available for urban environmental management in Danang. The City Government can issue specific regulations for pollution control. Regarding economic measures, there are a number of measures, such as "polluter pays a charge", natural resource fees, pollution fines and other management instruments.

1.3. Overview of the Current Status

In general, the environmental and living conditions in Danang urban areas are not so good. We have some problems with water quality; noise level; and deteriorating natural resources. The main causes are human induced activities. Today the people and Government of Danang are facing many crucial emergency problems, such as increasing air and water pollution, solid waste management; controlling the deterioration of natural resources; increasing provision of health and medical care; and solving transportation and infrastructure problems. To deal with those problems, the Danang urban inhabitants need a comprehensive and effective environmental management system which includes a legal framework, an institutional framework and appropriate management instruments.

1.4. Priority Issues and Measures

The most serious environmental problems that the city faces are industrialization and pollution control, solid waste management, sewerage and sanitation. The production technology in many factories is backward, which results in extensive pollution. There are factories in housing areas which are noisy and polluting. According to the annual report of DNRE noise is often more than 10 times the accepted level. Most waste water from the latrines, septic tanks and pan/bucket latrines is discharged into the urban sewerage system. The lakes in the urban area are threatened by illegal dumping and housing.

We need some measures to encourage the state and private enterprises to change their technology and to use new, more environmentally friendly, technology. The planning of industrial zones and removing factories from housing areas are priority measures. We also need to set up an environmental protection fund in order to assist companies reduce their pollution. Danang has made considerable and comprehensive investment in the environmental sector, which is shown in some main constructions as sewerage construction and garbage collection construction. Afforestation planning is paid with due concern to facilitate the municipal population's access to clean environment and fresh air. Environmental protection has become an important criterion for the municipal people and an essential factor to attract visitors.

Illegal wastes disposal to the river

To TOP

2. Action Plan

2.1. Goal

To establish a proper treatment system for industrial and medical waste in Danang city.

2.2. Target Population

With the annual growth rate of approximately 1.9%, at the end of the year 2005 the city has 790,191 persons (not including the workers and the students who move to the city for jobs and study) of which 51.71% are males, 48%, workers and 9.6% students. In the urban area, which is approximately 200 square km, accommodates 79% of the population.

There are about 129,000 workers in industrial zones. In the waste treatment field, there are 980 persons involved, of which 510 are males.

2.3. Strategies to Achieve the Goal

1) Strengthening institution

• Draft an "environment protection strategy toward 2010"; set up an "Environment Recovery Fund in Danang city" under the Department of Environment and Natural Resourses; set up a "Regulation of Waste Treatment" when the appropriate works have been completed at the end of 2007; enforce the regulations at the end of 2008 by the People's Committee.
• Set up a "Steering Committee for environmental protection strategy in Danang city" to co-ordinate the interdisciplinary activities and combine the environmental protection programs into social-economic development strategies. The Department of Internal Affairs has responsibility for setting up this Steering Committee.
• From 2006 to 2007, Danang URENCO will pilot the program of "Waste Sorting at Home" in Phuoc Ninh ward of 300 households (15,000 persons) with a budget of 170 Million VND. Operate the "Clean and Green City at School Program."
• Continue to implement the strategy of removing the factories from the urban center into an industrial zone or appropriate suburban areas. By 2010, remove all the polluting factories from the urban center, the others will be implemented in steps depending on the finance situation of the city.
• Intensify inspection, examination and supervision of the application of the environment protection regulations to firmly tackle violation of environment protection laws. Draft and promulgate the "Regulation in Compensation for Environment Damage". Examining the quality of the waste treatment process at the rubbish dump periodically.
• Draft the policies to assist the population, reduce tax and subsidy fees for activities in environmental protection at the city; the draft will be completed in 2007 by the Department of Finance and Department of Environment and Natural Resourses.
• Study the current situation and devise a basic survey, designed to forecast and warn about the furture of natural resources and the environment. This should be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Environment and Natural Resourses at the end of 2008.

2) Reconstruct existing organizations

• Change Danang URENCO into a "One member limited company" before 2008 to gradually improve the service quality. Call for capital to invest in the equipment and reduce dependence on the local state budget. " Set up a new company in 2007 to manage the new rubbish dump to be handed over from the Drainage and Sanitation Project.
• In 2007, upgrade the Company to manage the water treatment plant and drainage network of the city. Make operation regulations; and set expense standards and the finance for the company.
• In 2008, complete the construction of and operate the plant for processing solid wastes into composting fertilizer.
• In 2008, finish the feasibility study and draft a proposal on the LPG Collection and Energy Recovery CDM Project at the old rubbish dump, to submit to the authorities for approval.
• In 2008, finish the feasibility study and draft "Industrial and Medical Waste Treatment Plant Construction Project--1st phase" to create the potential for investment in 2009.

3) Training

• Collaboration with University of Danang to set up an Environment Faculty.
• Recruit more environmental managerment specialist for the City Departments, particularly in the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resourses, and the Department of Public Works and Transportation and Industrial Zone PMU.
• Develop a training course to upgrade knowledge for the environment waste treatment workers and staff periodically every 6 months. Develop a program to train volunteers.
• Take part in the co-operation programs with international organizations to exchange experience.

4) Strengthening service and supply activities

• Open areas to collect and carry wastes at suburban and rural areas. In 2009 raise the rate of waste to be collected and carried up to 90%.
• Continue increasing the fee to reduce dependence on the local state budget for waste treatment expenditure. In 2008 increase the waste treatment fee and water drainage fee by 10%.

5) Involvement of NGOs

• Encouraging NGO activities (Women Association, Youths Association, Veteran Association, Children sponsoring Association, etc) to focus on information about environmental protection. Encourage the NGO's activities taking part to consult, inspect, recognize, certify, criticize and monitor the environment projects or programs when required.

6) Involvement of the private sector

• Encourage the private sector to take part in collecting and treating waste by applying for contracts to supply environmental services.

7) Raising knowledge

• Launch a movement to raise popular awareness of environmental protection, enhancing the role of the NGO activities in this field.
• Diversify the investment capital for environmental protection. Ask the local state budget to cover no less than 1% of the total costs in 2008 and increasiethis rate to be in accordance with the growth of economic development.
• Raise awareness of environmental protection in the business community; develop training courses to disseminate laws and exchange knowledge; encourage a competition in environmental protection for enterprises and resident communities.
• Post the weekly program on "environment al protection" using the local multi-media and the city's websites.

2.4. Monitoring System

1. Monitoring system data:

2. Desired aim

(left) Greenery in the urban area    (right) Beautification activity by school childre