Xuan Hoa sluice in Tien Giang province’s Cho Gao district (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Provinces in the Mekong Delta are taking promptactions to help local residents adapt to drought and saltwater intrusion duringthe dry season.
Every year, severe saltwater intrusion occurs in Tien Giang province’s Tan PhuDong district, which is located at the lower section of Tien River and betweenthe river mouths of Tieu and Dai, according to Nguyen Quoc Khanh, chairman ofthe district People’s Committee.
The province has allocated more than 26 billion VND (1.1 million USD) forirrigation systems to protect production and the life of local residents.
The capital is being used to dredge a total of 3,000 metres of eight canalsthat will be used to store fresh water, and build three new sluices that willprevent saltwater intrusion in Tan Thoi and Phu Dong communes.
It is also being used to upgrade three embankments to protect nearly 5,560hectares of land for production, including 2,950 hectares of coconuts and morethan 1,250 hectares of fruit, among others.
District authorities have urged farmers to use methods that adapt to climatechange and to expand areas for vegetable cultivation in paddy fields so thatwater can be saved.
In areas near sea and embankments, farmers have upgraded more than 320 hectaresfor shrimp breeding.
In Tra Vinh province, the Centre for Fresh Water and Rural EnvironmentalHygiene has built works connecting tap water supply systems and has provideddevices containing fresh water for residents in areas affected by drought andsaltwater intrusion.
Bui Van Mung, the centre’s director, said that more than 4,600 householdslacked fresh water, most of them in remote areas in Chau Thanh, Cau Ke, and CangLong districts.
The areas affected by saline intrusion do not have enough tap water supplystations or systems. Saltwater intrusion has increased since February, whileall main sluices in the province have been closed to store fresh water andprevent saline intrusion.
Local resident Thach Sa Ri of Da Loc commune in Chau Thanh district has beenusing drilled well water, but "the well has gone dry because of the lackof rain".
Mung said that the province has allocated nearly 12 billion VND to expand freshwater supply systems for areas affected by drought and saltwater intrusion.
The system will provide tap water to nearly 4,000 households in the districtsof Cang Long and Chau Thanh by the second quarter of the year.
For households in areas where the system’s pipeline cannot access, the centrewill provide devices to contain water.
Ben Tre province has 4,962 households that lack devices to store fresh water.Its authorities have suggested that the Vietnam Fatherland Front CentralCommittee provide drinking water jugs for the poor.
Vinh Long province has an irrigation system with more than 5,000 canals andothers, more than 400 embankments and more than 6,000 sluices to ensure waterfor agricultural production.
The province needs 200 billion VND to dredge the La Ghi-Tra Con Canal in Tra Ondistrict to serve 30,000 hectares and another 250 billion VND for the Cai Ca- MayTuc irrigation system in Vung Liem district to serve 45,000 hectares. It haspetitioned the Government for the assistance.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, saltwaterintrusion is forecast to increase from March 7 to 15 due to high tides and beat the highest level since the beginning of the dry season./.
Every year, severe saltwater intrusion occurs in Tien Giang province’s Tan PhuDong district, which is located at the lower section of Tien River and betweenthe river mouths of Tieu and Dai, according to Nguyen Quoc Khanh, chairman ofthe district People’s Committee.
The province has allocated more than 26 billion VND (1.1 million USD) forirrigation systems to protect production and the life of local residents.
The capital is being used to dredge a total of 3,000 metres of eight canalsthat will be used to store fresh water, and build three new sluices that willprevent saltwater intrusion in Tan Thoi and Phu Dong communes.
It is also being used to upgrade three embankments to protect nearly 5,560hectares of land for production, including 2,950 hectares of coconuts and morethan 1,250 hectares of fruit, among others.
District authorities have urged farmers to use methods that adapt to climatechange and to expand areas for vegetable cultivation in paddy fields so thatwater can be saved.
In areas near sea and embankments, farmers have upgraded more than 320 hectaresfor shrimp breeding.
In Tra Vinh province, the Centre for Fresh Water and Rural EnvironmentalHygiene has built works connecting tap water supply systems and has provideddevices containing fresh water for residents in areas affected by drought andsaltwater intrusion.
Bui Van Mung, the centre’s director, said that more than 4,600 householdslacked fresh water, most of them in remote areas in Chau Thanh, Cau Ke, and CangLong districts.
The areas affected by saline intrusion do not have enough tap water supplystations or systems. Saltwater intrusion has increased since February, whileall main sluices in the province have been closed to store fresh water andprevent saline intrusion.
Local resident Thach Sa Ri of Da Loc commune in Chau Thanh district has beenusing drilled well water, but "the well has gone dry because of the lackof rain".
Mung said that the province has allocated nearly 12 billion VND to expand freshwater supply systems for areas affected by drought and saltwater intrusion.
The system will provide tap water to nearly 4,000 households in the districtsof Cang Long and Chau Thanh by the second quarter of the year.
For households in areas where the system’s pipeline cannot access, the centrewill provide devices to contain water.
Ben Tre province has 4,962 households that lack devices to store fresh water.Its authorities have suggested that the Vietnam Fatherland Front CentralCommittee provide drinking water jugs for the poor.
Vinh Long province has an irrigation system with more than 5,000 canals andothers, more than 400 embankments and more than 6,000 sluices to ensure waterfor agricultural production.
The province needs 200 billion VND to dredge the La Ghi-Tra Con Canal in Tra Ondistrict to serve 30,000 hectares and another 250 billion VND for the Cai Ca- MayTuc irrigation system in Vung Liem district to serve 45,000 hectares. It haspetitioned the Government for the assistance.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, saltwaterintrusion is forecast to increase from March 7 to 15 due to high tides and beat the highest level since the beginning of the dry season./.
VNA
