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| Minister Nguyen Quan |
During a television show called "People ask, ministers answer," aired on February 16, Minister Nguyen Quan was asked about water pollution in both rural areas and cities. This is suspected to be one of the reasons cancer rates in Vietnam are high and on the rise. The responsibility of the MST was questioned, especially whether it collaborates with other agencies such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Quan answered, "Even though the Prime Minister assigned the job to build a system for environmental protection to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, we were still asked to participate and contribute our opinions. When designing and drafting laws concerning the sciences and technology, the National Assembly gave us some responsibility in assessing the environmental impacts of big projects, including FDI projects. We hope the water pollution problem will decrease in near future."
He went on to say that the MST has a responsibility to support other agencies, individuals and organisations on environmental research. Recently, they provided support for Hanoi National University, whose research on removal of arsenic and manganese in underground water was published.
The ministry also gave support to Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in a project to deal with dioxin contaminated land. Quan said the project is being implemented on a large-scale, and hopes that they will be able to remove all dioxin from Vietnam.
"The local departments of science and technology must also take responsibility. If an individual has a good idea and solid research they should be provided support in seeing their ideas through with full intellectual property rights," Quan said.
"The local departments of science and technology must also take responsibility. If an individual has a good idea and solid research they should be provided support in seeing their ideas through with full intellectual property rights," Quan said.
