The Prime Minister directed proactive measures to prevent and combat drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just signed Official Dispatch No. 128/CD-TTg dated December 8, 2024, requesting ministries, sectors, and localities to proactively prevent and combat drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion.

Dankia - Suoi Vang headwater lake ( Lam Dong province )

Official dispatch sent to the Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Construction, and Industry and Trade; and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities.

Currently, as the dry season approaches, water levels in many reservoirs in the Central and Central Highlands regions are lower than normal. The first months of 2025 may see drought and localized water shortages, especially in the South Central and Central Highlands regions. In the Mekong Delta, localized water shortages and saltwater intrusion into river estuaries are possible, affecting people's lives and production and business activities.

To proactively prevent, combat, and mitigate the impacts of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion, the Prime Minister requests:

1. Ministers of Ministries, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, especially those in the South Central region, Central Highlands, and Mekong Delta, are directed to review and assess water resource capacity and develop appropriate water resource utilization plans to serve production and business activities, especially ensuring water supply for the people during peak months of hot weather, drought, and saltwater intrusion.

2. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment:

a) Directing close monitoring of weather, hydrological, and water resource developments; promptly providing information on the situation and short-term and long-term forecasts regarding hydrology, water resources, drought risks, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion, especially in the Mekong Delta and the Central and Central Highlands regions, so that relevant agencies, localities, and people are aware and can proactively implement preventive measures, avoiding being caught off guard or unprepared.

b) To collect information on water resources, the operation and regulation of hydroelectric reservoirs outside Vietnam, and the water exploitation and use by upstream countries of transboundary rivers to serve the forecasting of water resources for the Mekong Delta and some large reservoirs in Northern Vietnam.

c) Directing and guiding the operation and regulation of water reservoirs to proactively store water for domestic use, power generation, and agricultural production, especially during peak hot months.

3. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a) Organize monitoring and proactively direct the implementation of measures to prevent, combat, and mitigate the consequences of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion, in accordance with the actual situation at each time and in each area; direct and guide localities to adjust planting seasons and organize production accordingly to minimize the impact on agricultural production, especially in the Mekong Delta region.

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and relevant provincial People's Committees to direct the flexible and efficient operation of irrigation and hydropower reservoirs and irrigation systems to effectively and optimally exploit and utilize water resources, ensuring water for domestic use, agricultural production, and power generation, especially during periods of peak heat.

4. The Minister of Industry and Trade directs the ensuring of electricity supply for production, business, and daily life of the people, maximizing the efficiency of electricity sources from hydropower plants in accordance with the water regulation plan to serve production and daily life.

5. Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, especially those in the Mekong Delta, South Central region, and Central Highlands: Organize the monitoring of weather developments, meteorological and hydrological forecasts, drought, and saltwater intrusion; determine the level of impact on each locality to proactively implement specific response measures as directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and in accordance with the actual situation in the locality, including guiding people to proactively store freshwater, use water economically and efficiently; prioritize ensuring the supply of water for domestic use for people, medical facilities, education, and other essential needs, resolutely ensuring that no one lacks water for daily use.

6. Other ministries and agencies, according to their assigned state management functions, shall proactively direct, coordinate, and support localities in responding to and overcoming drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion, ensuring the livelihoods of the people.

7. The Government Office monitors and supervises according to its assigned functions and duties...

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thu-tuong-chi-dao-chu-dong-phong-chong-han-han-thieu-nuoc-xam-nhap-man-384269.html