A corner of Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The local authorities expect to protect the bay's environment by restricting the construction of cement and thermal power plants in the province. — Photo royallotushotelhalong.com

QUẢNG NINH (Biz Hub) — Northern Quảng Ninh Province has proposed to restrict the construction of cement and thermal power plants near urban areas, especially the Hạ Long and Bái Tử Long Bays.

The proposal was submitted by the Quảng Ninh People's Committee to the working delegation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), led by Deputy Minister Bùi Cách Tuyến, at a meeting held on August 27.

Deputy Chairman of the Quảng Ninh People's Committee Đặng Huy Hậu suggested that new cement and thermal power plant projects should be constructed at a minimum distance of 15 kilometres from buffer zones and the neighbouring urban areas of Hạ Long Bay.

Hạ Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes Bái Tử Long Bay to the northeast and Cát Bà Island to the southwest.

The province also proposed that MONRE should request the plants to comply with MONRE's regulations on emissions by 2015.

Hau said most of the plants are using outdated and non-synchronous technology which causes environment pollution and affects people's lives. He proposed that the central authorities should select projects with advanced technology to invest in the province in order to ensure the safety of the world heritage site and its neighbouring areas.

Deputy Minister Tuyến agreed with the proposal and said that he would ask the concerned ministries and sectors to create the most favorable conditions for Quảng Ninh to carry out its work on environment protection. — VNS