The dispatch stated that since the beginning of the year, the Mekong Delta has been experiencing continuous periods of saltwater intrusion and prolonged heat waves. Local authorities and the entire political system have proactively and synchronously deployed many response measures under the direction of the Government, the Prime Minister and specialized ministries, thereby minimizing damage to agricultural production and limiting the impact on people's lives (people in some areas have difficulty with water sources, but are still guaranteed domestic water through measures to increase water supply by the government).
According to forecasts by specialized agencies under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , from now until mid-May 2024, there may be 3 periods of saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta (from April 8 to 13, from April 22 to 28 and from May 7 to 11), the risk of fresh water shortage for people's daily life may continue to occur, especially in residential areas on the islands, especially in the context of declining fresh water reserves after prolonged heat waves, droughts and saltwater intrusion.
To ensure the supply of domestic water for people and proactively respond to future saline intrusion, the Prime Minister requests: Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Construction, Information and Communications and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities in the Mekong Delta region, especially localities with many households affected by saline intrusion such as Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Kien Giang, Long An, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau provinces, must not be negligent or subjective, closely monitor the situation, continue to seriously, resolutely and effectively implement measures to respond to heat, drought, water shortage and saline intrusion according to the direction of the Prime Minister in Official Dispatches No. 04/CD-TTg dated January 15, 2024, No. 19/CD-TTg dated March 8, 2024 and Directive No. 11/CT-TTg dated April 1, 2024. Which focuses on the following tasks:
Continue to organize reviews and grasp information about the situation of each area, each hamlet, each household in the area at risk of domestic water shortage, especially households living in coastal areas, at the end of water sources, residential areas on islands to have specific and appropriate plans to ensure domestic water for people, resolutely not let people go without domestic water.
Organize a review of the freshwater reserves in the area to have a plan to balance and regulate freshwater sources for daily life and production in accordance with the actual water conditions in each area. In case it is not possible to meet all water needs, priority must be given to using freshwater sources to supply water for daily life of people and other essential needs. Proactively arrange the local budget and mobilize other legal financial sources to immediately implement necessary measures suitable to the specific situation in the locality to ensure fresh water for daily life of people.
The Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and cities shall be responsible to the Prime Minister if there is a situation where people do not have domestic water.
The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment continues to direct competent authorities to closely monitor developments, forecast, and provide timely and accurate information on water resources and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta so that competent authorities, localities and people know and proactively implement appropriate preventive and response measures, avoid panic, and avoid being passive and surprised.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to direct the monitoring of developments, specialized forecasts, and timely provision of information to localities and people; at the same time, proactively direct and guide localities to implement specific measures to prevent and combat water shortages and saltwater intrusion, limiting impacts on people's lives and agricultural production.
The Minister of Construction coordinates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and People's Committees of provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta to direct and implement the work of ensuring domestic water supply for people and other essential needs in urban areas and towns.
The Minister of Information and Communications directs and guides media and press agencies to continue to do a good job of information and propaganda, ensuring timely and accurate information on the situation of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion, avoiding negligence and subjectivity in leadership and direction, and at the same time not causing panic in response work.
Other ministries and branches, according to their assigned state management functions, proactively direct, guide, and support localities in responding to the risk of water shortages and saltwater intrusion, ensuring people's lives.
The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang to continue directing ministries, branches and localities, especially provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta, to deploy appropriate response work to the situation of drought, water shortage and saltwater intrusion. The Government Office will monitor and urge the implementation, and at the same time report to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on the results of the implementation of this Official Dispatch.
Source
Comment (0)