Preventing drought and saltwater intrusion, ensuring water for agricultural production

(Directive No. 19/2014/CT-UBND dated October 14, 2014 of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee)

(Baonghean) - To proactively prevent and combat drought and saltwater intrusion, ensuring water supply for production in the 2014 winter-spring crop, the 2014-2015 winter-spring crop and the following period, the Provincial People's Committee assigned directors of departments, heads of sectors, branches, relevant provincial-level organizations; chairmen of People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to perform well the following tasks:

1.Chairman of People's Committee of districts, cities and townsCoordinate with local irrigation companies to effectively implement campaigns to mobilize the entire population to do irrigation work in their localities with the following main contents:

a) Continue to educate cadres, party members and people about the economic efficiency of irrigation and drainage for industrial crops, fruit trees, and crops, and for aquaculture, and to solidify canals, thereby raising awareness of initiative, promoting internal strength, and fighting against the mentality of dependence and waiting.

b) Review the flood and storm prevention plan, closely monitor information and weather developments to store water in reservoirs appropriately, proactively respond to all possible situations, and ensure project safety. Once the flood and storm prevention plan has been approved, the Flood and Storm Prevention Command of the projects must have a proactive implementation plan according to the approved plan.

c) Strictly implement Directive No. 7071/CT-BNN-TCTL dated September 3, 2014 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (a photocopy of the Ministry's Directive is attached) on strengthening the work of preventing and combating drought, saltwater intrusion, and coping with the effects of El Nino, focusing on implementing the following contents:

- Develop early a water supply plan for winter-spring crop production in 2014 - 2015. Based on the ability to balance water resources (when the rainy season ends), arrange a reasonable crop structure; promptly adjust production and water supply plans when water resources change;

- Strictly manage water resources, prevent leakage and loss, use water resources economically and effectively; increase the use of scientific irrigation methods to save water for rice and upland crops;

- Organize dredging of canal systems, water intake gates, irrigation pumping stations, ponds, wells, clearing water flows, building temporary dams to prevent salinity, installing water intake equipment for proactive operation, ensuring adequate conditions for water supply, ventilation from the source to the field, taking advantage of all water sources for production and daily life;

- Digging and building reservoirs, small tanks, wells, developing small pumping networks to maximize the advantages of the dam system in the province to replicate irrigation models for orange, tea, coffee, rubber, grass, etc. trees;

- Organize the repair of works, dams, and internal irrigation; continue to implement the program of solidifying canals, rural traffic programs, field traffic combined with land conversion and the program of building new rural areas.

d) Based on the above contents and local characteristics and conditions, set out specific goals, tasks and volumes. During the launching period, localities mobilize and encourage all classes of people to actively participate in public service. Pay attention to practical efficiency and organize thrift; avoid formalism, waste and expense.

e) At the end of the campaign, there will be a summary, evaluation, and report on the implementation results to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for synthesis and reporting to the Provincial People's Committee.

2.Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:Direct the Irrigation Sub-Department, People's Committees of districts, cities, towns, Irrigation LLCs... to effectively implement the irrigation campaign combined with preparing plans to prevent and combat drought and saltwater intrusion, proactively take measures to cope with the impact of El Nino in the winter-spring crop of 2014-2015 and the following period, guide localities and units to develop programs, plans, organize the implementation of the campaign and regularly inspect, monitor and report the results to the Provincial People's Committee. At the end of the campaign, it is necessary to organize evaluation, classification, propose commendation and reward for units and individuals who have performed well, criticize and remind units and individuals who have not performed well in this campaign. At the same time, review, plan and provide the seasonal schedule and water demand in the downstream of Ca River to Ban Ve and Khe Bo Hydropower Plants to release the necessary water flow to ensure drought prevention needs.

3.Provincial departments, branches and sectorsAccording to its functions and tasks, proactively coordinate with localities to effectively launch a campaign to mobilize the entire population to work on irrigation, prevent and combat drought, saltwater intrusion and cope with the effects of El Nino.

4.Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An NewspaperClosely coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to have a program and plan to propagate Resolution 02 NQ/TU, promptly report on the progress and results of the 2014 nationwide campaign to build irrigation works and advanced models, contributing to promoting the emulation movement in the whole province, regularly propagate, mobilize, and guide the use of water economically, effectively implement the work of preventing and combating drought and saltwater intrusion.

5. SuggestionFatherland Front Committee and mass organizationsProvincial people mobilize their union members to actively participate in the campaign to build irrigation works, proactively prevent drought, saltwater intrusion and deal with the effects of El Nino in the most practical way.

Provincial People's Committee