Environmental pollution affects human health. VNA/VNS Ilustrative Photo

HÀ NỘI A hotline to receive reports of environmental pollution has received nearly 2,400 messages since it was set up in 2018.

A representative of the General Department of Environment, at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said over the first ten months of 2022, the hotline has been alerted to 500 cases, of which 394 have been handled (accounting for 88 per cent of the total).

According to the department, the hotline aims to give people and the community a voice in environmental protection, and improve the efficiency of management agencies in receiving and handling complaints.

The line has become a useful information channel, helping organisations and individuals give feedback on environmental issues and pollution hotspots to the State management agencies.

The hotline has also helped detect problem areas and handle individuals and groups causing pollution, according to the representative of the General Department of Environment.

Recently, the hotline transferred complaints made by residents of Bàn Giản Commune in Vĩnh Phúc Province to the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment. These complaints involved the Hera Brick Factory, which was causing pollution, emissions, and noise in Xuân Me Village.

According to residents, before they called the hotline, they had reported the case to the commune and district authorities, but it had not been resolved.

Vĩnh Phúc Province's Department of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with the People's Committee of Lập Thạch District to organise an inspection at Hera Joint Stock Company.

The department requested Hera to fully comply with regulations on environmental protection and operate its waste treatment system in accordance with the issued environmental licence.

Nguyễn Kim Tuấn, the department’s Director, said the company will be responsible for building fences, planting trees to minimise dust, and ensuring operations of vehicles end before 10pm. VNS