A recent survey run by the municipal Natural Resources and Environment Department showed dust concentrations were above allowable levels on about 60% of Ha Noi's roads.
The municipal transport department has told district and commune authorities to increase inspection procedures and punish drivers of polluting vehicles and backers of construction projects causing dust as of tomorrow.
Construction licences will be revoked and companies told to stop building, if they continue to infringe.
Sanitation workers will be out in force to remove rubbish, dirt and sand scattered on roads by vehicles on key streets and other high-use routes.
A recent survey run by the municipal Natural Resources and Environment Department showed dust concentrations were above allowable levels on about 60 per cent of Ha Noi's roads.
The average concentration on many roads during an hour reached 0.5mg/cu.m. The allowable level, was 0.3mg/cu.m per hour, said Le Thanh Thuy, a department official.
Overloaded and uncovered lorries and tip trucks were blamed for 95 per cent of the dust. They also failed to meet hygiene regulations.
Industrial activities, transportation, urban construction and residents' activities were other contributors.
The department said land earmarked for transport in Ha Noi was only 7 per cent of urban land while in developed countries it was 20-25 per cent.
About a month ago, two missions from the municipal People's Council inspected Ha Noi's environmental pollution and protection to get an accurate assessment of problems.
The missions proposed local authorities establish an environmental management network at all levels and have the ability to automatically supervise water and air quality.
Nguyen Van Nam, deputy head of the economics department of the Ha Noi People's Council, said since 2005, the city had unsuccessfully directed relevant agencies to act to reduce dust in Ha Noi.
Measures suggested included urging construction workers to carefully cover their sites and asking drivers to wash trucks before leaving building sites.
But irregular inspections and supervision, combined with a lack of awareness of environmental protection among individuals and organisations were key reasons for the problem, he said.
Stricter punishments for offenders, such as confiscating, vehicles for 10 days, were needed, Nam said.
