The pristine beauty of the Perfume River

Water hyacinth worry

If we were to vote on the greenest, cleanest, and most beautiful rivers in Hue now, I would only see the Perfume River, and many sections of the An Cuu, Ke Van, and Dong Ba rivers. The rest, mostly rural and suburban rivers, are still not green and clean; many sections are overgrown with water hyacinths, emitting foul odors that detract from the aesthetics and negatively impact the environment.

For example, at this time of year, along the Nhu Y River passing through Thuy Van ward (Hue City) or Thuy Thanh commune (Huong Thuy town), many sections are overgrown with water hyacinth, along with garbage covering the surface of the river. The hot weather combined with the smell of the water full of hyacinth and garbage makes first-time visitors feel uncomfortable.

Along the Dai Giang River, in the section passing through Phu Luong commune bordering Phu Da town (Phu Vang district), water hyacinths float profusely, covering the entire surface of the river in many places, making it difficult for boats to fish for shrimp and fish. From Phu Thu bridge, we headed towards Phu Gia and Vinh Ha communes (Phu Vang district). Along this route, many canals and waterways leading water to the rice fields were densely covered with water hyacinths, obscuring the water surface. The dense hyacinths paralyze the rivers, not only causing difficulties in transporting goods by water but also reducing fish and shrimp populations due to lack of oxygen. Even more worrying is that if floods come soon, the hyacinths will invade the rice fields, causing hardship for the farmers.

Mr. Ho Van Quyet, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Da town (Phu Vang district), said that the reason water hyacinths appear on the Dai Giang River and canals in the area is because there are many water hyacinths upstream of the large rivers, but they are not removed. When the weather changes and the wind blows, the water hyacinths move to the Dai Giang River area through Phu Da in greater quantities. "For many years, water hyacinths have been a problem affecting agricultural production in Phu Da. Every year, the local government receives financial support from the province and district to mobilize the entire population to remove and treat the water hyacinths, but it's still not enough," Mr. Quyet said.

To keep the rivers green

In recent times, many localities have implemented models and projects, or integrated them into environmental protection programs and plans, helping to clean up many rivers and river sections within their areas, reducing the amount of trash and water hyacinth. Furthermore, with the launch of the "Green Sunday" movement, and in response to World Environment Day and the annual Environmental Protection Action Month, officials from associations, organizations, and the government, as well as the people, have participated not only in cleaning up village roads but also in clearing canals and ditches, and significantly removing and treating water hyacinth from rivers…

Recently, following the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, localities responded to World Environment Day (June 5th) by simultaneously organizing campaigns to remove and treat water hyacinths on rivers, focusing on rivers and canals with large amounts of water hyacinths that pose environmental sanitation risks and affect waterway traffic, production, and farming activities of the people.

According to the leaders of Huong Thuy town People's Committee, in response to the "Month of Action for the Environment and World Environment Day 2024" and implementing the conclusions of the Provincial People's Committee, in the communes and wards of Thuy Thanh, Thuy Duong, Thuy Phu, Thuy Luong, and Thuy Tan, in coordination with relevant departments, organizations, and functional forces, they carried out the removal and treatment of water hyacinth on rivers and canals... combined with the "Green Sunday" campaign, collecting hundreds of tons of fresh water hyacinth. Along with Huong Thuy town, the work of removing and treating water hyacinth was also directed by the districts and towns of Huong Tra, Phu Vang, Phu Loc, Quang Dien, Phong Dien... to the communes and wards with rivers and canals to collect water hyacinth and clean up waste in the surrounding areas.

One unit that has earned the trust of the people and contributed to a clean and green environment in the locality is the Hue Urban Environment and Construction Company (HEPCO). Through a commitment to service cooperation, HEPCO has proactively implemented a fixed schedule of 2-3 shifts per week to thoroughly remove and treat water hyacinths from rivers in Hue City and its surrounding areas. As a result, many rivers in Hue are becoming increasingly cleaner and greener.

HEPCO leaders shared: “The handling of garbage and water hyacinth in river and canal areas is the responsibility of the company. The company only cooperates and supports local authorities, especially during times of emergency or natural disasters such as floods and storms…”

Currently, due to resource constraints (human resources, funding), the removal and disposal of water hyacinth and waste from rivers has not been highly effective and has not become a widespread and regular movement within the community. Most localities only act spontaneously, waiting for support and initiatives from relevant higher-level departments and agencies.

According to experts, to make Hue's rivers even cleaner, the "Green Sunday" initiative must be large-scale, not just a temporary campaign. Each cleanup effort should involve thorough removal and treatment of water hyacinths. Furthermore, to create more beautiful, clean rivers free of trash and water hyacinths, various resources need to be invested in. The implementation process should involve consultation with specialists and scientists; instead of spreading resources thinly, investment should be made in sections and routes. Afterward, evaluations should be conducted, lessons learned, and the model replicated. Management should then be entrusted to villages, neighborhoods, and local authorities where the rivers flow, with a commitment to maintaining cleanliness and beauty.

Text and photos: SONG MINH