Nearly 16,000 billion VND short of investment in clean water program for rural people

Currently, 68% of rural households have access to clean water that meets standards. The target is 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2045, ending the shortage of domestic water.

Students of Can Thanh Primary School use tap water to wash their hands and faces - Photo: QUANG DINH

On October 16, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction and the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper jointly organized the forum "The role of clean water and rural environmental sanitation in sustainable agricultural development and civilized rural construction".

At the forum, Mr. Giap Mai Thuy, Deputy Head of the Department of Rural Clean Water Management, Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ), said that the work of providing clean water to rural areas in the recent period has made an important contribution to achieving clean water targets in the National Target Program on New Rural Construction (2021 - 2025).

Digital transformation in rural clean water management has been implemented synchronously from the central to local levels. Units have researched and applied many solutions such as online water quality monitoring, biological contact filter tank technology to treat water sources contaminated with organic matter and ammonia, multi-layer filter materials, etc.

As a result, up to now, nationwide, about 68% of rural households have access to water that meets standards, of which 60% of households use water from centralized water supply works, and 8% of households are supplied with water from household water supply systems.

However, investment resources are still limited. In the 2020 - 2024 period, the total capital for the program is about 13,400 billion VND, while the demand in the 2021 - 2025 period is estimated to need 29,200 billion VND, a shortage of nearly 16,000 billion VND.

According to Mr. Luong Van Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction, developing clean water in rural areas associated with digital transformation is a key solution to achieve the goal of "smart new rural areas - livable rural areas".

According to the national strategy, by 2030, 80% of rural households will have access to clean water that meets standards, all water supply units will operate effectively, and the shortage of domestic water in disadvantaged areas will be completely resolved. By 2045, the goal is for 100% of rural residents to have access to clean water, contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture and civilized, modern rural areas.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has completed a draft new decree on rural clean water management, which clearly stipulates the investment, operation management and socialized capital mobilization mechanism. This decree is expected to overcome current shortcomings, creating a clear legal corridor to attract businesses and economic organizations to participate in providing clean water services.

NGUYEN TRI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thieu-gan-16-000-ti-dong-dau-tu-chuong-trinh-nuoc-sach-cho-nguoi-dan-nong-thon-20251016185518811.htm