Mekong Delta province faces worsening river, canal erosion
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is facing increasing erosion along rivers and canals, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Mekong Delta province faces worsening river, canal erosion (Photo: VNA)
Tien Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang isfacing increasing erosion along rivers and canals, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture andRural Development.
Therehave been 92 cases of erosion this year, nearly equal to the number in thewhole of last year, involving a total length of 3,600 metres.
Mostrivers and canals have been affected, with the scale growing larger, causingdamage to houses, roads and other infrastructure.
Nguyen Van Man, director of the department, said bothhuman and natural factors are to blame.
Weakbanks in some places, the impact of tides, junctions causing strong flows, andboasts are among the major causes, he elaborated.
Illegalconstruction along water bodies and illegal sand mining in rivers and canalsare also to blame, he said.
Toprevent the erosion, the department has undertaken construction and other worksappropriate for each locality.
Thenon-construction works include providing financial support to localities toenhance public awareness of erosion and take proactive measures like plantingtrees and grass along rivers and canals and water hyacinths near their banks.
Inthe province, roads are often built along banks, and so any erosion alsodamages them, affecting transport.
Theprovince has set up a board to manage irrigation and transport infrastructureand also take measures to prevent erosion.
Ithas banned individuals and organisations from encroaching on safe corridorsalong river and canal banks and carrying out activities that could causeerosion.
Ithas reinforced eroded river and canal banks with rock and cement embankments,and in other places used tree trunks and soil to prevent erosion.
Theprovince has given localities nearly 69 billion VND (3 million USD) to repair 83 spots severely eroded so farthis year. District funds are also used for the task.
Incase of severe erosion that could be expensive to fix, localities should ask itfor funds, the provincial People’s Committee has said.
In2016 - 2019, nearly 232 billion VND (10 million USD) was spent to repair 415 sites, accordingto the department./.
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Mekong Delta province faces worsening river, canal erosion (Photo: VNA) 
