Ha Tinh province proactively responds to the risks of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province directed local authorities and irrigation organizations to allocate sufficient personnel to open, receive, and regulate water in the fields promptly during the water release period for the 2024 Spring crop, absolutely preventing any loss or waste.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Hong Linh, has just signed and issued a directive from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on proactively responding to the risks of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion.

According to the provincial meteorological and hydrological station, the current atmospheric and oceanic conditions are El Nino. From February to April, El Nino is expected to persist with a probability of over 90%, temperatures will be 1.0-1.5 degrees Celsius higher, rainfall is likely to be lower than the multi-year average, and river and stream flows are likely to be 10-20% lower than the multi-year average, posing a risk of drought and water shortage from March to July.

For the time being, localities and irrigation organizations should assign sufficient personnel to open and receive water to regulate inland water levels in a timely manner during the water release period for the 2024 Spring crop.

In implementation of Prime Minister 's Directive No. 04/CĐ-TTg dated January 15, 2024, on proactively responding to the risk of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion, and to proactively respond to the potential risks of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion affecting the production and daily lives of the people during the 2024 dry season, based on the proposal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Document No. 197/SNN-TL dated January 19, 2024, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests the directors of departments, heads of agencies and units at the provincial level, and chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns to focus on effectively implementing a number of specific tasks.

Accordingly, the chairpersons of the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns shall organize propaganda and guidance for people to proactively store freshwater, use water efficiently and economically, and thoroughly prevent water loss and waste in the event of drought or water shortage.

At the same time, the specialized departments and People's Committees of communes, wards, and towns are directed to coordinate with the irrigation companies to review water sources, water usage needs of irrigation works, and other related conditions, and to develop a water supply plan for 2024 and a detailed irrigation plan for each production season as a basis for implementation; localities and grassroots irrigation organizations must allocate sufficient personnel to open, receive, and regulate water in the fields promptly during the water opening period for the Spring 2024 crop, absolutely preventing water loss and waste; proactively develop drought prevention plans to serve production and people's lives in the Summer-Autumn 2024 crop in accordance with the actual conditions in the locality; and regularly coordinate with the irrigation companies to implement drought prevention and rational water regulation solutions when drought occurs.

Monitoring weather conditions, short-term and long-term hydrological forecasts, water resources, and the risk of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion from specialized agencies is crucial for developing plans to adapt and adjust crop structures in the event of drought or water shortage; calculating and adjusting water use plans and water supply plans to be flexible and timely in response to adverse weather developments, prioritizing water resources for domestic use, livestock farming, and other key production sectors.

Directing investors to accelerate construction progress and complete irrigation and domestic water supply projects as soon as possible to proactively implement water supply solutions when droughts occur; proactively allocating local budgets to implement urgent solutions for drought and saltwater intrusion prevention and control.

Directors of single-member limited liability irrigation companies and units assigned to manage and operate irrigation works in the province shall preside over and coordinate with localities to review water sources, irrigated area, water needs of irrigation works under their management and other related conditions, calculate and balance, and develop a water supply plan for 2024 and a detailed irrigation plan for each production season for each project, ensuring accuracy and efficiency, with a spirit of utmost water conservation, prioritizing water supply for domestic use, livestock farming and other key production sectors. These plans shall be submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (via the Provincial Irrigation Sub-Department) for review and comments before issuance as a basis for implementation. During the water supply process, adjustments and supplements shall be made promptly based on weather conditions; in case of drought or water shortage, maximum priority must be given to water supply for domestic use.

Regularly coordinate with local authorities to check water levels in irrigated fields to plan timely pumping and irrigation, ensuring sufficient water supply for the 2024 spring rice crop; regulate and distribute water resources rationally and economically, preventing water loss and waste, and reserving water for the 2024 summer-autumn crop.

Strengthen management and operation, regulate water resources rationally to reduce water loss; organize the operation of opening and closing sluice gates to prevent saltwater intrusion and retain freshwater appropriately, monitor, observe, and control salinity to ensure water quality for production and daily life; coordinate with the provincial power company to ensure electricity supply for irrigation pumping stations, especially those whose water sources are affected by tides.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with local authorities, will review and identify areas where water resources can be proactively managed and areas at high risk of drought and water shortage. Based on this, guidance will be provided on crop conversion and appropriate production methods to minimize losses due to drought and water shortages. The Department will guide and urge units and localities to review and balance water resources and water demand, develop water supply plans for each project, and provide feedback to units and localities to finalize and issue irrigation plans for projects as a basis for implementation, monitoring, and supervision.

Closely monitor weather developments and water sources, guide water regulation at irrigation reservoirs, and manage water resources in irrigation systems; regularly inspect and evaluate the water balance calculations of localities and units to direct adjustments to water use plans accordingly, best meeting the needs of domestic and production water.

Directing and urging the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns; and the single-member limited liability irrigation companies to implement solutions to ensure water supply, proactively carry out drought and saltwater intrusion prevention and control when drought occurs; guiding localities on appropriate seasons and water intake times to align with the planned water release times of irrigation works, avoiding prolonged water intake periods. Directing and urging rural clean water supply units to develop specific water supply plans for each project, and organizing the operation of rural water treatment plants to ensure safe water supply for the people's daily needs. Compiling information on drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in localities, and proactively advising the Provincial People's Committee to report to ministries and agencies to propose to the Prime Minister for consideration and support of resources to implement drought and saltwater intrusion prevention and control solutions in accordance with the law.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment directs the Provincial Meteorological and Hydrological Station to closely monitor weather developments, strengthen forecasting, warning, and assessment of meteorological and hydrological conditions; based on this, to promptly provide meteorological and hydrological forecast bulletins to serve production in accordance with actual water conditions, contributing to increased proactiveness in drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion prevention and control; coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Industry and Trade, and localities to unify flexible operation plans and regulate water in irrigation and hydropower reservoirs to proactively prevent and control drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion and effectively exploit water resources in both the flood and dry seasons.

The Department of Industry and Trade directs the Ha Tinh Power Company to organize and manage the operation of the distribution power grid to ensure safe and stable electricity supply for production, business, and daily life of the people in the area; to urge and guide relevant agencies, localities, and units to strengthen electricity saving according to the content of Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated June 8, 2023, of the Prime Minister; and to direct hydropower plants to operate according to the reservoir operation procedures approved by competent authorities (paying attention to operating reservoirs in accordance with drought conditions to ensure minimum water usage requirements during the dry season as prescribed).

The Department of Construction, in coordination with the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board and the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns, directs the units managing and operating urban and industrial park water treatment plants to proactively review and develop plans for operating and regulating the water supply system in accordance with the conditions of the raw water source to ensure safe water supply for residents and customers; review and implement solutions to prevent water loss and leakage; and organize propaganda and guidance for people to proactively store freshwater and use it efficiently and economically.

The Department of Planning and Investment, in coordination with the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and other relevant units, will advise the Provincial People's Committee on allocating and integrating public investment funds from programs and projects in the province (if any) to proactively respond to the risks of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in the province.

The Department of Finance, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other relevant units, will advise on a funding plan that is appropriate to the practical conditions and budgetary balance.

The Department of Information and Communications instructs media agencies operating in the area and related units to strengthen information and communication efforts to all levels, sectors, organizations, units, and the public regarding the economical use of electricity and water, and proactively responding to drought and water shortages.

Other departments and agencies, according to their assigned functions and tasks in state management, shall proactively direct and coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the People's Committees of districts, cities, and towns to implement measures to prevent, combat, and mitigate drought and saltwater intrusion.

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