 |
| Cai Lon-Cai Be sluices in Kien Giang province to be shut for preventing saline intrusion__Photo: Thanh Liem/VNA |
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered competent officials to take proactive response to ensure sufficient fresh water supply for local residents in the Mekong River delta which has been hard hit by saline intrusion.
According to Telegram 34/CD-TTg of April 8, 2024, PM Chinh asked the Ministers of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Information and Communications together with chairpersons of the People’s Committees of the affected localities to keep a close watch on the current situation as well as take drastic and effective measures in response to droughts, water scarcity and saline intrusion.
The chairpersons are urged to pen rational measures to regulate fresh water, while arranging local budget and mobilizing other legal financial sources to roll out necessary measures to ensure sufficient water for local livelihoods and production.
Meanwhile, the MoNRE and MARD ministers are requested to make sound forecasts, and provide information on the water supply and saline intrusion situations in the region.
According to related agencies from the MoNRE and MARD, three spells of saltwater intrusion are forecast until mid-May in the Mekong River delta, one on April 8-13, one on April 20-28 and another on May 7-11, which could result in severe local water shortages.-(VLLF)
