Improving the efficiency of water resources management

Exploitation and rational use

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) - Phan Van Cuong, the province has implemented many solutions to contribute to strengthening the management of water resources. The province has invested in and upgraded water supply systems in the area to better serve the needs of people and businesses.

At the same time, the province develops a plan and roadmap to seal wells in key industrial districts where there is a centralized water supply system, ensuring both water quality and flow while maintaining and protecting underground water resources according to regulations.

The province invests in upgrading water supply systems to meet the needs of domestic and production water (In photo: Water Supply Plant in Hamlet 1, Thanh Tri Commune, Kien Tuong Town, with an investment of more than 7 billion VND)

Over the past years, in Thanh Tri commune, Kien Tuong town, people have gradually changed their habit of storing water in jars or taking advantage of water sources in canals, ditches, etc. Instead, people have registered to use water from the centralized water supply system to ensure their health.

Mr. Tran Thanh Liem (Hamlet 1, Thanh Tri Commune) shared: “Using clean water with guaranteed quality is extremely necessary. When the water plant in the hamlet is completed, I will register to use it. The water source is clean and strong, so I feel secure using it.”

Mr. Tran Thanh Liem (Hamlet 1, Thanh Tri Commune, Kien Tuong Town) uses water from the centralized water supply system to ensure quality and flow, protecting his health.

According to Chairman of Kien Tuong Town People's Committee - Nguyen Van Vu, every year, the town allocates resources to invest in and upgrade the water supply system in the area. The town calls for resources and mobilizes people to install and connect to centralized water supply pipelines.

From there, the need for domestic water for people and businesses is basically resolved. The town continues to review, adjust and update the content of water supply; promote awareness of the importance of clean water for human life and socio-economic development.

The town builds a plan to protect the environment, protect water resources and water supply works; calls on everyone to use clean water economically, sustainably, and adapt to climate change.

In addition, the town repairs, renovates, upgrades, and expands existing centralized clean water supply works (focusing on upgrading water quality treatment technology, increasing capacity, expanding the water supply network, and stabilizing water sources under the influence of natural disasters and climate change).

Many factories using surface water sources have come into operation, exploiting and using water resources effectively, contributing to protecting underground water resources in the area (In photo: Provincial leaders visit Hoa Khanh Tay Water Supply Plant, Duc Hoa district)

Another important highlight in the province's water resources management is to encourage non-budgetary resources to invest in surface water projects. In the province, there are many projects and works for exploiting and using surface water that have been completed and put into operation: Hoa Khanh Tay Water Supply Plant (Duc Hoa District), Nhi Thanh Water Plant (Thu Thua District),...

These projects not only promote the strengths of surface water resources in supplying water for the daily life and production needs of people and businesses, but also contribute practically to protecting groundwater in the province.

According to the representative of Nhi Thanh Water Plant, Thu Thua District - Tran Tan Loi, the project exploits 100% of surface water sources, after going through the treatment system, it provides clean water for daily life and production for a number of localities in the area through distribution units with a design capacity of ^60,000m3 /day and night, with a reserve water supply of up to ^80,000m3 /day and night.

Not only does it concretize the policy of the Government and the province, the project also contributes to preserving and protecting underground water resources throughout the area, reducing land subsidence and limiting saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

We continue to focus all resources to deploy and complete the investment in expanding water supply pipeline networks according to the set policy and schedule to supply water to serve the needs of daily life and production, ensure infrastructure to attract investment, develop the economy , and contribute to ensuring social security for people in the province.

Synchronize management solutions

According to Mr. Phan Van Cuong, the process of managing natural resources has received regular attention and direction from provincial and local leaders and enthusiastic support and guidance from the Department of Natural Resources Management.

Close and timely coordination between relevant departments, sectors and localities in assessing and determining sanitary protection zones, financial obligations regarding exploitation rights, resource taxes and environmental protection fees, etc. for each application for a license to exploit and use natural resources, contributes to improving the effectiveness of natural resources management.

The management of natural resources has basically become systematic, the procedures for granting licenses for exploitation and use of natural resources have been reviewed, updated, and publicly announced in a timely manner. The processing of licensing applications and the calculation of fees for granting the right to exploit natural resources must be simultaneous and in accordance with current legal regulations on natural resources.

Recently, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has strengthened coordination with relevant agencies and units in the appraisal and licensing of natural resources, in the review and collection of fees for granting exploitation rights, and in the management and handling of unlicensed and unregistered wells, etc.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment continues to inspect, urge and remind water resource exploitation enterprises to install equipment and connect automatic and online monitoring data for water resource exploitation and use projects.

The Department coordinates with relevant agencies and units to handle and fill damaged or unused wells; inspects, urges, and reminds enterprises exploiting natural resources to install equipment and connect automatic, online monitoring data for works exploiting and using natural resources. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment advises on the development and promulgation of legal documents on natural resources in the area.

However, at present, the management of natural resources in the area still has certain difficulties and limitations. To improve the effectiveness of this field, contributing to the protection, exploitation and effective and sustainable use of natural resources in the area, in the coming time, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment proposes and recommends a number of solutions.

The Department of Staff of the Provincial People's Committee recommends that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment promptly complete and issue decrees and circulars guiding the implementation of the Law on Natural Resources and Environment in 2023; review, edit and supplement to synchronize with legal regulations between sectors and other fields such as land and environment.

At the same time, the Department recommends that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment promptly complete and publish national water resources inventory data; promptly build a database on water resources: characteristics of water level drop, reserves, exploitation density, etc. of aquifers to serve the management of exploitation, use and protection of underground water resources effectively.

The Department proposes to supplement human resources and improve management capacity for staff working in the field of natural resources at provincial and district levels; strengthen equipment and tools for management, especially tools for information processing and assessment during the appraisal and licensing process, and equipment for inspection and examination.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will organize training and propaganda for officials, civil servants of departments, branches, district People's Committees and enterprises on communication to raise awareness and responsibility of the community in exploiting, using and protecting natural resources. The Department will take the lead in coordinating with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of districts and centralized water supply units to conduct inspections and request units using underground water to fill wells and connect to use water from centralized water supply units.

At the same time, the Department requested the District People's Committee to inspect and review the closure of wells when the area has a concentrated water supply with sufficient flow and quality passing through.

“In 2024 alone, the Department will focus on disseminating, popularizing, and implementing the 2023 Law on Natural Resources and Environment and guiding decrees and circulars for cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers at state agencies, enterprises, and people in the province.

Advise the Provincial People's Committee to handle underground water exploitation and use projects that are not registered, do not have a license, or have expired licenses. The Department coordinates to handle underground water exploitation and use projects that use public land, and continues to handle and fill damaged or unused wells.

At the same time, the Department will inventory and evaluate surface water resources in the area and continue to inspect and urge enterprises exploiting natural resources to install equipment and connect automatic and online monitoring data for works exploiting and using natural resources,..." - Mr. Phan Van Cuong informed./.

Chau Son

Source