Hanoi (VNA) - Regulations imposing stiff fineson littering and urinating in public spaces took effect almost a week ago(February 1), but most Hanoians are unaware of this, a local report says.

The TienPhong (Vanguard) newspaper also said thatthe lack of awareness of new rules has been reflected in continued littering inpublic spaces.

GovernmentDecree 155/2016/NĐ-CP imposes fines of 3 million VND (133 USD) to 7 million VND(313 USD) on those littering in public spaces, including pavements, streets orsewage systems in residential areas, especially large cities like Hanoi and HCMCity.

Finesbetween 500,000 VND (22 USD) and 1 million VND (44 USD) will be imposed onthose who throw cigarette butts and ash in no-smoking areas, including shoppingmalls and residential areas.

Those who urinate in public spacesand others crowded like shopping malls, pavements and parks will also be finedbetween 1 million VND (44 USD) and 3 million VND (133 USD).

The TienPhong’s report said that on February 2,in front of the popular Trang Tien ice-cream parlour near the Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake, ice-cream sticks and packs werethrown on the pavement and the street despite many trash bins nearby.

On nearby Le Thach Street, which hosts many bookstalls,buyers discarded receipts and plastic bags on the street. Many pedestriansaround HoanKiem Lake also threw empty bottles, candyand biscuit wrappers on the street and flower beds were strewn with the litter.

Of the 20 people that the newspaper talked to, just two saidthey knew of the new decree. Many people did not know about the rules becausethey had come into force during the Tet (LunarNew Year) holiday, the report said.

Nguyen Thanh Tung, a resident of Hanoi’s Ha Dong district,who did not know about the new rules, said people were continuing to throwtrash, cigarette butts, chewing gum in public spaces.

However, he felt that the fines should be imposed gradually,because the incomes of Vietnamese people remained low. It would be difficult toimpose such heavy fines, he said.

Nguyen Thi Hoa, a cleaner with Hanoi UrbanEnvironment One Member Co Ltd said“The Vietnamese feel no emotion on seeing rubbish. I’ve seen that when manyforeigners see rubbish, they pick it up and put it in the waste baskets.”

Hoa welcomed the new rules, saying they would make her jobeasier, and raise public awareness about environmental protection and urbanbeauty.

According to Decree 155, chairpersons of ward, district andprovincial administrations have the authority to impose penalties. Policeofficers, heads of police departments at ward level or at a border gate orexport processing zones are authorised to impose fines of up to 2.5 million VND(111 USD).

Maritime police, chief inspectors of local departments ofnatural resources and environment and others of similar rank are also qualifiedto impose fines, besides chief inspectors of the Ministry of Natural Resourcesand Environment, head of the Vietnam EnvironmentAdministration and head of Pollution ManagementDepartment.

Many people doubt that the new rules are feasible, thenewspaper reported.

Phan Van Son, who was cycling around Hoan Kiem Lake, said there must be clear evidence for imposing suchheavy fines. There must be cameras and supervisors, and these are not very easyto organise, he said.

Nguyen Van Nam, a resident of Hanoi’s Bac Tu Liem district agreedwith the need for regulations, but felt they were too general and not clearenough. Who will be punished and who will do the punishing is not clear, hesaid.

Meanwhile, management boards of relics nationwide are tryingto disseminate the new rules to visitors, given that large numbers of peopleflock to tourism sites during the first lunar month.

Nguyen Nam Nho, head of Soc Temple management board in Soc Sondistrict, said they were not fining people for littering. They are still tryingto increase public awareness and placing additional waste baskets to discouragepeople from littering.-VNA