On December 31st, 2009 the government issued Decree No. 117/2009/ND-CP valid from March 1st, 2010 to process violation cases in term of environment protection. Binh Duong Newspaper interviewed Mr. Tran Thanh Quang who is Vice chief of Binh Duong Environment protection department.
- Has Decree No. 117 any difference from other administrative sanction decrees on environment protection?
- In comparison to previous Decree No. 81/2006/ND-CP, Decree No. 117 is newer in response to complex cases. The punishment is higher and can reach VND 500mln for a case. Beside the fine, Decree No. 117 adds up crime details against the environment to wider range of fields including water, air, and solid wastes, waste imports and exports, and natural environment preservation in tourism.
Moreover, the decree details forceful punishments against violators avoiding to recover their damages as demanded.
- What are the punishments then, sir?
- They will be forced to suspend water, electricity, and other services involved; to remove construction, equipments; to freeze the accounts; to return tax code, billing, and even business license.
- In your opinion, what we should do to facilitate the effect of Decree No. 117 in environment protection?
- We should promote the decree to organizations and business in the province. Full awareness will lead to environment protection commitment. Therefore, beyond propaganda for better awareness, the environment police forces will be deployed to strictly punish any violations. By such move, Decree No. 117 will be effective in improving environment.
Interviewed by Ngoc Chau – Translated by Vi Bao
