(KPL) A senior official from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport led a high-level meeting on Dec. 23 to review a draft law aimed at improving wastewater management across Laos.

The meeting, held at the Vang Vieng District Administration Office, was chaired by Deputy Minister Ngampasong Meuangmany, who heads the committee overseeing the legislation.

Officials focused on gathering expert feedback and refining the draft before submitting it to ministry leadership and opening it for nationwide public consultation.

Ngampasong said the water supply and sanitation sector is critical to national development and stressed that the proposed law supports both international and domestic priorities. He noted the legislation aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, which promotes universal access to clean water and sanitation.

The draft law also supports the government’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to ensure urban residents have access to safe, affordable, and well-managed sanitation services. It includes provisions requiring proper wastewater treatment in provincial and district municipalities to protect the environment and public health.

According to Vansavaeng Udthachak, deputy director general of the Water Supply Department, the current draft contains 17 parts, 13 chapters, and 112 articles.

Representatives from the National Assembly, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport took part in the discussions, offering legal and technical input to strengthen the draft before its next review stage.

KPL