Overcoming drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion according to the 4 on-the-spot motto

BTO-This is one of the directives of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai in a recent dispatch, implementing Directive No. 11/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister on strengthening measures to prevent and combat heat, drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion.

Accordingly, to limit damage to production, lack of domestic water, affecting people's lives, the Provincial People's Committee requires relevant departments, branches and localities to promptly and effectively deploy solutions to prevent and combat heat, drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion according to their functions and tasks. Specifically, inventory and grasp information on water resources at irrigation systems in the province, organize optimal operation, effectively exploit irrigation systems to coordinate water resources, best meet water needs for water users according to existing water resources, prevent loss and waste. At the same time, overcome drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion according to the 4 on-site motto.

*Reservoir runs dry due to drought in Ham Thuan Nam.*

At the same time, optimize operation and effectively exploit irrigation systems to coordinate water resources, best meet water needs for water users according to the existing water resources, and prevent loss and waste. In case of water shortage, it is not guaranteed to provide enough water for use, priority should be given to domestic use, irrigation for perennial crops with high economic value and other essential needs. Proactively dredge canals and reservoirs that have been silted up to restore and increase water storage capacity during the rainy season. Urgently carry out maintenance of irrigation infrastructure assets in 2024 to ensure safe operation of works, maintain the capacity to take, transfer and supply water, etc.

*Dragon fruit withered due to lack of irrigation.*

It is known that due to the influence of El Nino, from the beginning of 2024 until now, the weather in the province has been hot and dry for a long time, with high temperatures. This has led to a decrease in groundwater levels, depletion of natural rivers and streams, causing drought, lack of domestic water and a risk of domestic water shortage in the coming time if there is no rain in 47 communes, wards and towns in the province. Thereby affecting the lives of 33,116 households/99,543 people (already lacking 12,517 households/42,277 people, at risk of lacking 20,599 households/57,266 people), lack of irrigation water for 961 hectares of winter-spring crops in 2023 - 2024, affecting productivity. In addition, 1,175 hectares of dragon fruit trees in Ham Tan district and La Gi town are at risk of water shortage from the end of April 2024 if there is no rain. On the other hand, according to forecasts, in the coming time, the average temperature tends to be higher than the average of many years, especially in the summer. Heat waves are likely to continue to appear more frequently and more severely than the average of many years, with the risk of continued heat waves, drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion, especially in the Central and Southern regions.

K. HANG

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