The government has instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to expedite the development of a comprehensive plan for natural disaster and water resources management until 2030, with a vision towards 2050.

This is the first national plan in the field of disaster prevention and water resources management, aimed at addressing major issues related to national-scale disaster prevention and water resources management, including inter-regional and inter-provincial aspects. The plan encompasses solutions for the medium-term (until 2030), long-term (until 2050), and beyond.

The total budget allocated for implementing the plan is estimated to be around 471 trillion VND for large-scale inter-provincial infrastructure projects, and approximately 203 trillion VND for three programs related to clean water supply in rural areas, water supply for inhabited islands, and the development of small, decentralized reservoir systems for domestic water supply and irrigation in drought-prone areas.

On the morning of February 16, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, as reported by the Government’s official news agency, proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development expedite the progress and submit the plan for government review and approval as soon as possible. This proposal was discussed during a meeting of the Council for Evaluation of the Natural Disaster and Water Resources Management Plan, which involved relevant members of the Council as well as concerned ministries, departments, and local authorities.

During the meeting, as reported by Nhan Dan newspaper on February 17, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang emphasized that the plan for disaster prevention and water resources management is an urgent task for the socio-economic development of the country, especially given the intensifying impacts of climate change.

The significant fluctuations in water resources across river basins, along with the challenges posed by climate, natural disasters, and the demands of various socio-economic sectors, necessitate effective measures for disaster prevention and water resources management.

Indeed, the rapid and widespread development of industrialization and urbanization throughout the country has resulted in numerous negative consequences, such as altering natural river flows, lowering water levels in rivers, increasing water pollution, and hindering the drainage and flood control capacity. These issues are particularly prominent in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Furthermore, while the country’s resources are limited, the scattered investments made without proper coordination according to previous plans have resulted in suboptimal outcomes. At the same time, there is a high demand for investment in water resources infrastructure, including irrigation systems, embankments, flood control projects, and drainage systems, as proposed in the water resources management and embankment plans.

Source: Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association

Tags: clean water, water resources