At the workshop with the theme: "Living with drought and salinity in the Mekong Delta" recently held at Can Tho University, the organizers said that there were opinions that we should not invest in a series of salinity prevention sluices in the Mekong Delta, but depending on each region and each place, and this needs to be carefully considered in the current difficult economic times. As Deputy Director of the Investment Management and Construction Board of Irrigation 10 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Mr. Kieu Van Cong needs to have an opinion.
Mr. Kieu Van Cong - Deputy Director of Irrigation Investment and Construction Management Board 10 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) talks about salinity prevention sluices in the Mekong Delta. Photo: Huynh Xay
Accordingly, Mr. Cong said that the Irrigation Investment and Construction Management Board 10 is an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has been operating for 40 years, its main task is to manage and invest in irrigation projects, including salinity prevention sluices.
Regarding saltwater intrusion prevention sluices, in the period of 2016-2021, we completed many important projects with high efficiency, such as Ninh Quoi boat lock sluice, sluices in the South Mang Thit area (Tra Vinh and Vinh Long provinces), especially the Cai Lon - Cai Be sluice system ( Kien Giang ).
Cai Lon culvert in Kien Giang. Photo: Huynh Xay
During the 2021-2025 period, Irrigation Investment and Construction Management Board 10 is in charge of 8 projects, including 2 water transfer projects and 2 water storage projects (Nguyen Tan Thanh sluice gate in Tien Giang and the water source control system on the southern bank of Hau River in Soc Trang ).
Regarding Nguyen Tan Thanh sluice gate, according to Mr. Cong, the solution of both construction and saltwater prevention has been applied, so saltwater has been controlled from the dry season of 2022-2023, saving a lot of money, serving 41,000 hectares in the project area for Tien Giang and Long An provinces.
For the water source control system on the southern bank of the Hau River, serving 19,000 hectares and creating a source for 36,000 hectares, this project has multiple purposes, including providing fresh water for water plants and providing water for agricultural production. In the dry season of 2024-2025, the water source control system on the southern bank of the Hau River will strive to effectively control salinity.
For the next phase, the Irrigation Investment and Construction Management Board 10 has submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval a series of projects to be implemented in Ca Mau, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh. When the projects are completed, the sub-regions will be gradually closed, thereby significantly improving the salinity intrusion situation.
"If this can be done, the drought and salinity picture reported annually reaching 50-60km deep will be greatly reduced," said Mr. Cong.
Regarding opinions that we should not invest in a series of saline prevention sluices in the Mekong Delta, but that it depends on each region and each place and that this needs to be carefully considered when the economy is difficult, Mr. Cong emphasized: "Everything has two sides, the good and the bad. When investing in projects, we have to consider, whichever brings more benefits, we will decide, of course we have to minimize damage".
Mr. Cong further explained that, when building a saltwater prevention sluice in the Mekong Delta, when water needs to flow through, it will be allowed to flow through, not completely blocking the river.
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