VND530 billion earmarked for drought, saltwater intrusion prevention in Mekong Delta region

ABO/NDO – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved an aid package worth VND 530 billion (US$22.7 million) for drought, saltwater intrusion prevention in eight Mekong Delta provinces.

A farmer on his dry rice field in the Mekong Delta province of Long An (Photo: VNA)

Accordingly, the provinces of Ben Tre, Long An, Tien Giang, Ca Mau and Kien Giang will be allocated with VND 70 billion each, while Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Bac Lieu will receive VND 60 billion each.

The aid package, sourced from the State budget, will be used to carry out urgent solutions to combat drought, water scarcity and saline intrusion in the provinces, including pumping water, dredging canals, building temporary embankments to retain freshwater, digging ponds and wells to contain freshwater, and extending the water supply network.

The money will also be used to purchase water filters and storage containers, and transport water to residential areas, hospitals and schools in the areas that are facing water shortages.

In early 2020, the Mekong River Delta region, an agriculture and aquaculture centre in Vietnam, witnessed a drought caused by climate change, leading to a shortage of clean water in many areas.

The water scarcity has caused serious saline intrusion in 10 of the 13 provinces in the Mekong River Delta, which has affected the crop production of the region, which is heavily dependent on agriculture, as well as threatened food security, livelihoods and production of nearly 700,000 people.

(Source: NDO)