HÀ NỘI — Stricter punishments are needed for violations of waterway traffic safety, illegal mineral exploiting and dyke safety in Hà Nội, said Nguyễn Thế Hùng, deputy chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee in a conference held on Tuesday in the capital.

Speaking at a conference assessing results of an inspection on the issues in the city, Hùng said that if strict measures were not taken, violations would increase and become more serious and.

In the future, the Hà Nội Police will be key in checking and fining violators related to waterway traffic safety. The police should act as advisors for the municipal people’s committee to help the committee ensure traffic safety, he said.

Nguyễn Xuân Hải, deputy director of the Hà Nội Department of Dyke Management and Flood Control, said that the most serious problem at present was construction firms gathering materials near the dyke systems, affecting safety.

By the end of last month, the city had more than 200 construction materials gathering grounds, which were about 200ha, along the Hồng (Red), Đuống and Công rivers in 16 districts and towns of the city. Only 35 of them were licensed.

Nguyễn Văn Hùng, deputy director of the Hà Nội Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said that another problem was companies illegally sucking sand from the river bed using a pump at bordering areas of districts causing difficulties for inspection.

Kiều Quang Phương, head of the Ba Vì District Police, said that the police at present lack specific tools and vehicles to check boats and ships. The police also did not have ship drivers or have places to impound vehicles.

In March and April this year, the municipal police fined more than 4,900 waterway traffic safety violators to the tune of more than VNĐ2 billion (US$88,800). The police also worked with traffic inspectors to fine more than 200 people for illegally exploiting sand and soil, according to the Hà Nội police. — VNS