Synchronously deploy solutions

(Baonghean) -Mr. Phan Bui My - Director of the Center for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation, interviewed by Nghe An Newspaper.

PV:Clean water - Rural environmental sanitation is a field that people are very interested in. So how have the authorities at all levels and functional sectors implemented it in the past time?

Mr. Phan Bui My:Implementing the National Target Program on Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation in Nghe An has many advantages, that is, the Government has approved the National Target Program on Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation for the period 2012-2015 and the planning for water supply and sanitation in rural areas until 2015, with a view to 2020 has been approved by the People's Committee of Nghe An province. Along with that, thanks to the attention and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and Party committees and authorities at all levels. In particular, people's awareness of the importance of clean water and rural sanitation is increasingly enhanced. At the same time, in Nghe An, there are many technological and technical models on water supply and rural sanitation and many models of management and exploitation of very effective works.

Students in Vinh City rally in response to National Week of Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation.

To effectively implement the National Target Program on Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation, Nghe An has established a Steering Committee for the Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation Program, including the sectors of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, Education and Training, etc. After approving the "Project on Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation Program in Nghe An", the Provincial People's Committee has planned, prioritized investment capital and issued mechanisms and policies to encourage investors in the field of rural water supply and environmental sanitation. Along with investment capital from the State budget, bank loans, revolving credit funds of the Women's Union and contributions from beneficiaries, this field has also received attention and investment from domestic and foreign organizations such as UNICEF, DANIDA (Denmark), World Bank - WB, Asian Development Bank - ADB, etc. In 2013, the total investment capital for the Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation Program was 213 billion VND. With that investment capital, hundreds of thousands of people in rural areas have access to clean water and standard sanitation facilities.

The Steering Committee of the provincial clean water and rural environmental sanitation program has deployed and closely monitored activities in this field, developed specific programs and actions, and created favorable conditions for the successful completion of the program. The field implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has created positive changes, which is to increase the proportion of rural population using hygienic water according to Decision 51/2008/QD-BNN from 66.5% to 68.5%, of which the use of clean water according to QCVN 02:2009/BYT increased from 27% to 29.2%; The proportion of livestock farms with hygienic waste treatment increased from 34% to 36.5%. The Health sector has also rapidly increased the number of rural households with hygienic latrines according to TC08/BYT from 43.5% to 45.2% and the rate of commune health stations with water supply facilities and hygienic latrines (HVS) increased from 85% to 87%. In the Education & Training sector, the rate of rural schools with water supply facilities and hygienic latrines increased from 54.75% to 56.72%.

In particular, with the timely attention and support of the Asian Development Bank - ADB, Nghe An is implementing the water supply project and the pilot sub-project in Dien Yen (Dien Chau) on schedule. Up to now, the investment in the construction of a clean water plant has been completed and the inauguration of the plant will be held on the occasion of the "National Week of Clean Water - Rural Environmental Sanitation", while simultaneously implementing the construction supervision package for water supply works - standard toilets and promoting information - education - communication activities and mobilizing the community to implement according to the approved plan. Along with the water supply - sanitation sub-project in Dien Yen, the second phase of the project is currently being promoted in the inter-commune of Long Thanh, Khanh Thanh, Vinh Thanh, Trung Thanh, Yen Thanh district and the location has been approved by ADB, along with completing the baseline survey, assessing the economic and social status and the need for clean water and environmental sanitation in the communes (directly implemented by the International Consultant).

PV:The rural water supply and sanitation program in Nghe An has achieved positive results, but in the coming time, the sector will face difficulties due to limited investment capital. So, could you please tell us about the plan and measures in the coming time?

Mr. Phan Bui My:In 2014, the target is to increase the number of rural people using clean water from 68.5% to 73% (by the end of 2014), the rate of livestock farms with clean waste treatment from 36.5% to 45% by the end of 2014, reaching an increase of 8.5%. The number of rural households with clean toilets according to criteria 08/BYT increased from 45.2% to 50%; the rate of health stations with clean water supply facilities and clean toilets increased from 87% to 90.4% and the rate of schools with clean water supply facilities and clean toilets increased from 56.72% to 58.76%. To achieve that goal, the total capital needed to be mobilized is expected to be more than 300 billion VND, of which, it is proposed that the central budget support 50 billion VND, the provincial budget 25 billion VND, the rest will be mobilized from all levels, sectors, and beneficiaries. That is the plan, but the investment capital from the state budget is always cut, so there will be difficulties in the implementation process, especially in terms of counterpart capital for ADB projects.

Faced with that reality, it is necessary to synchronously deploy solutions, which is to strengthen communication and education work. Focus on communication to introduce water supply and use technologies, introduce water supply and environmental sanitation models. Regularly train and guide the management, operation and maintenance of centralized water supply works, especially self-flowing water supply works in mountainous areas. At the same time, issue appropriate mechanisms and policies, such as implementing the socialization of rural domestic water supply according to Decision 131/2009/QD-TTg dated November 2, 2009 of the Prime Minister on a number of preferential policies, encouraging investment and management of exploitation of rural clean water supply works. Use a part of the career capital to support post-construction management and operation (for works put into use for less than 3 years)...

During the implementation process, it is also necessary to prioritize capital support for connection projects, expanding projects from existing water plants to reduce upstream costs, build quickly, ensure water quality and maximize the capacity of built water plants. Focus on investing in large-scale, inter-commune water supply projects, limit fragmented investment to minimize construction land area, easily control water quality, reduce management and operation costs... Management and exploitation work after investment needs to be focused more, in order to manage the use, sustainable operation and maintenance of centralized water supply projects, it is necessary to form a project management organization before investment to train to improve capacity and participate in supervision during the investment process.

One problem in the process of implementing clean water project investment in our province is that some centralized water supply works are unfinished for a long time and not completed, the capital contribution from beneficiaries is low and not timely. The reason is that the support capital does not meet the plan and needs of the project, while it is difficult to mobilize capital from the people... At the centralized water supply works (self-flowing systems), they quickly deteriorate, are damaged, have low efficiency, and lack sustainability. Therefore, relevant levels and sectors need to have a plan to invest capital in a timely manner to complete the projects and repair and upgrade damaged and degraded works to put into operation to serve the clean water needs of the people. In the coming time, the water supply program needs to closely coordinate with Programs 134, 135, the Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction Program... and especially with the New Rural Development Program.

PV:Thank you!

Hoang Vinh(perform)