Gov’t responds to serious drought in Central Region

Illustration photo

The public telegraph was sent to Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, NinhThuan, Binh Thuan provinces and cities, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment. 

The serious hot weather took place from June 9-12 and June 20-23 with average high temperatures from 37 - 40oC. Total amount of rainfall was lower and a large number of small water reservoirs were dry. 

The Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration forecast that hot weather would continue to happen in the Central Region and the West Central mountainous region. 

The PM tasked ministries, agencies, and localities to promptly implement a series of measures to prevent and combat serious droughts, water shortage and saltwater intrusion. 

Chairmen of aforesaid provincial and municipal People’s Committees were asked to (1) prevent and combat droughts; effectively save and use waters; allocate budgets to fight saltwater intrusion; (2) assess water reserve resources in water reservoirs and irrigation projects; prioritize water supply for daily lives, castle breeding, and industrial plants.

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control was assigned to inspect and push localities to implement plans on drought and saltwater intrusion prevention; keep a close watch on the weather and water resource to regulate water supply in irrigation reservoirs; disseminate experience of modern and economical irrigation; craft plans to alter plants. 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was asked to keep a close watch on the weather; make forecasts on rainfall to supply information on meteorology, hydrology, droughts, saltwater intrusion for relevant agencies and localities.  

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was urged to direct the Electricity of Viet Nam to supply power for production and daily consumption; work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, localities to regulate water in water reservoirs to prevent droughts and saltwater intrusion. 

The Ministry of Health was assigned to inspect and ensure environmental safety and prevent disease outbreaks due to prolong droughts, water shortage, and water intrusion. 

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs is responsible for chairing and reviewing hunger demands and reporting the problem to the PM./.

By Kim Anh