Resolutely resolve environmental pollution hotspots The Notice stated: Environmental protection is of special concern to the Party and the State. Along with socio-economic development, environmental protection is an important and inseparable pillar that determines the sustainable development of the country. The system of policies and guidelines of the Party and policies and laws of the State on environmental protection are issued synchronously, creating a complete and favorable legal corridor for environmental protection. The Government and the Prime Minister have issued many Resolutions, strategies, plans, and directives to direct and organize effective implementation. However, the situation of environmental pollution is still very serious at times and in some places, especially air pollution in large cities; soil and water pollution in densely populated areas, craft villages, industrial production, business and service establishments, etc. The main reason for this situation is that the implementation is still lacking in synchronization, lack of determination, ineffectiveness, not clearly defining the focus and key points, the assignment of tasks is still overlapping, inadequate, and does not ensure the principle of "6 clear" - clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibility, clear products, clear authority. Creating a fundamental change in environmental protection work In order for the Directive, after being issued, to create a strong change in the awareness, responsibility and action of authorities at all levels, people and businesses; To create a fundamental change in environmental protection work, and thoroughly resolve environmental pollution hotspots, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Public Security to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and localities to continue reviewing and perfecting the draft Directive, noting the following contents: - Regarding the name of the Directive: it should be brief and clear in the direction of "Directive on a number of urgent tasks to resolve serious environmental pollution". - The content of the assessment of the situation and causes should be brief, concise, and summarize the level of environmental pollution nationwide, and pressing environmental issues such as air pollution, water sources in large cities, urban areas, environmental pollution in river basins, and craft villages. - Regarding tasks and solutions: It is necessary to review and synthesize into the draft Directive the tasks and solutions that have been identified in the resolutions and conclusions of the Party, the resolutions of the Government, the directives, conclusions and directions of the Government leaders that are being implemented but need to continue to be strengthened, ensuring that the content of the draft Directive is inherited, synchronous, systematic and effective in the process of organization and implementation. It is necessary to identify urgent tasks and solutions, a roadmap for completion to address serious pollution, hot spots of environmental pollution in large cities, urban areas, river basins and craft villages. For tasks with legal basis (already stipulated in laws and decrees), they must be stipulated in accordance with the "6 clear" principle; New tasks that are not yet regulated by law, have a deep and wide impact on people's lives, production and business activities of enterprises, need to be regulated in the direction of assigning competent agencies to research, propose, synthesize and evaluate the opinions of relevant agencies. - Regarding the assignment of responsibilities to ministries, branches and agencies, it is necessary to review to ensure that they are consistent with the assigned functions and tasks and the provisions of law, according to the principle that only one agency is in charge of a task, avoiding cases of doing it for others, duplication, and waste of resources; clearly define the responsibility for coordination in implementation activities. - Regarding the responsibility of localities, it is necessary to improve in the direction of: clearly defining the responsibility of the People's Committee at the provincial level, of the head in developing plans, determining environmental goals and targets for 5 years and annually; responsibility in implementing, ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of legal policies on environmental protection; responsibility for inspecting, examining, handling, and combating violations of environmental laws; establishing a monitoring and supervision data system connected to the Central Government. For Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi: The Directive needs to assign goals, tasks, results, completion time, and stipulate comprehensive responsibilities of the People's Committees of the two Cities in implementing urgent tasks on environmental protection. The Deputy Prime Minister agreed with the proposal in the draft Directive to assign the People's Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to develop, approve, and implement projects according to their authority, and at the same time, stipulate the responsibility to report to the Prime Minister on the implementation status. During the process of developing and implementing the projects, the People's Committees of the two Cities