Prime Minister directs focus on responding to heat, drought and saltwater intrusion

The content of the Telegram is as follows:

Since the beginning of 2020, rainfall in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands has been severely deficient, 20-90% lower than the average of the same period in many years, with Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan experiencing almost no rain. Severe drought and water shortages have occurred in some localities; the storage capacity of irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs is only 20-60% of the design capacity, with Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan below 20%, lower than the average of many years, and many small reservoirs have run out of water.

According to the forecast of the General Department of Hydrometeorology, in the coming time, the flow on rivers will generally be at a deficit of 20-60%, some rivers will be at a deficit of over 70%, some rivers are likely to have the lowest water level in the monitoring data series, the drought may last until the end of August 2020, there is a risk of widespread drought and water shortage, affecting production and people's lives in the Central coastal region, especially the South Central provinces.

In the face of the above situation, the Prime Minister requested relevant ministries, branches and People's Committees of provinces and cities to continue to direct and resolutely implement Directive No. 04/CT-TTg dated January 22, 2020 of the Prime Minister on implementing urgent solutions to prevent and combat drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion, resolutely not letting people lack water for daily use, focusing on the following specific tasks:

1. Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities, especially the following provinces: Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan:

a) Strictly implement measures to prevent and combat drought according to the direction of the Prime Minister, Head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Organize dredging of canals, irrigation systems; dig ponds, wells, build temporary dams to store water, prevent salinity; speed up the construction of irrigation works, supply domestic water; install and operate field pumping stations; extend the water pipeline network to connect water sources from urban areas to serve rural areas; transport domestic water to people, schools, hospitals, medical facilities in areas without guaranteed water sources, etc. Propagate and guide people to proactively implement measures to store water, use water effectively, save water, and thoroughly prevent water loss and waste.

b) Direct specialized agencies to inventory and evaluate water sources stored in reservoirs and irrigation works in the area, calculate water balance to promptly adjust and supplement water use plans, prevent and combat drought, in which priority is given to water sources for domestic use, livestock farming and irrigation of perennial industrial crops, and production areas; review, adjust and organize the implementation of specific operating plans for each irrigation system, irrigation reservoir, and hydropower plant.

c) Proactively implement water supply solutions to avoid water shortages for daily life and livestock farming, affecting people's health and lives, especially in mountainous and coastal areas where water shortages often occur.

d) Based on the specific situation of water resources and water supply capacity, continue to review and adjust the crop season and crop structure appropriately towards converting rice growing areas in drought-stricken areas that do not ensure water supply to dry crops.

d) Proactively arrange local budgets to implement urgent solutions to prevent and combat drought and saltwater intrusion; prioritize funding for investment in construction, repair and upgrading of centralized water supply works integrated into the National Target Program on new rural construction.

2. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

a) Assign 1 comrade to lead the ministry to directly monitor, direct, inspect, and urge localities to develop and implement plans to prevent and combat drought and saltwater intrusion; continue to organize specialized forecasts, guide and support localities to implement solutions to prevent and combat drought and saltwater intrusion (proactively adjust crop seasons, planting areas, suitable crop varieties, etc.).

b) Closely monitor weather and water resources developments, provide guidance on water regulation at irrigation reservoirs, manage water resources in irrigation systems, ponds, lagoons, and low-lying areas; regularly check and evaluate water balance, adjust water use plans appropriately to best meet water needs for daily life and production.

c) Preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam Electricity Group, hydropower plants and localities to unify plans to regulate water in irrigation and hydropower reservoirs in each river basin to supplement water for downstream areas, serving agricultural production and people's lives.

d) Provide guidance, dissemination, and experience in advanced irrigation, water saving, and water efficient use for localities, businesses, and people to apply; provide technical guidance on intensive rice cultivation using water-saving methods to cope with prolonged heat and drought; direct the prevention and control of pests and diseases on crops and livestock.

d) Coordinate with localities to review and identify rice-growing areas with proactive water sources, areas that are frequently affected by drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion, on that basis, develop crop conversion plans, and build conversion models associated with production and market linkages.

e) Synthesize the situation of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in localities, proactively coordinate with ministries and branches to propose to the Prime Minister to consider and support localities, especially provinces in the Central region, to implement solutions to prevent and combat drought and saltwater intrusion in accordance with the provisions of law.

g) Review and re-evaluate the capacity of irrigation works, especially reservoirs in the Central region, Central Highlands and areas frequently affected by drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion, and create warning maps for localities to develop appropriate production plans to limit damage caused by drought and saltwater intrusion.

h) Review and evaluate the current status of rural clean water supply works, propose solutions to improve operational efficiency and ensure water supply for people, especially in the Central region, Central Highlands, mountainous areas, islands and other areas lacking domestic water.

3. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

a) Closely monitor weather developments, strengthen forecasting and assessment of hydrometeorological situations, especially rainfall and flow situations, promptly provide information on meteorology, hydrology, drought, and saltwater intrusion to serve production direction in accordance with water resource conditions and proactively implement measures to prevent and combat drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion.

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and localities to unify plans to regulate water in irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs to supplement water to prevent and combat drought, water shortage and saltwater intrusion downstream.

4. Ministry of Industry and Trade

a) Direct Vietnam Electricity Group to proactively ensure electricity supply for production and people's daily life; increase the use of electricity sources, prioritize water from hydroelectric reservoirs to serve drought prevention, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion; ensure electricity supply for pumping stations to serve drought prevention and saltwater intrusion; coordinate with media agencies to do a good job of disseminating and propagating awareness of saving electricity, especially during the dry months.

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and localities to unify the plan to regulate water in hydroelectric reservoirs to supplement water to prevent and combat drought, water shortage and saltwater intrusion in downstream areas, with the first priority being to ensure water sources for daily life, agricultural production and then other essential needs.

5. The Ministry of Health proactively guides people on skills to protect their health during prolonged intense heat; directs grassroots health forces to proactively inspect, monitor, and guide people to ensure environmental safety, avoiding disease outbreaks due to the effects of prolonged heat, drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion.

6. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs shall preside over and proactively review and synthesize the need for famine relief support for people in areas affected by drought and saltwater intrusion, and coordinate with relevant agencies to report to the Prime Minister according to regulations.

7. The Ministry of Finance shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to synthesize the needs for support in drought prevention, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion prevention and control of localities, and propose and report to the Prime Minister according to regulations.

8. The Ministry of Information and Communications, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, Vietnam News Agency and media agencies continue to do a good job of information and communication work, raising awareness of all levels, sectors, organizations, units and people to change, perceive, proactively use electricity and water economically, and respond to drought and water shortages that may frequently occur.

9. Other relevant ministries and branches shall proactively direct, coordinate, and support localities in responding to and overcoming drought and saltwater intrusion according to their assigned State management functions and tasks./.

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