Directive No. 01/2001/CT-BGTVT on storm and flood prevention work and disaster mitigation for the Transport Industry in 2001

DIRECTIVE

OF THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION NO. 01/2001/CT-BGTVT
FEBRUARY 2, 2001 ON NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION AND MITIGATION WORK IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR IN 2001
In 2000, natural disasters occurred in many countries around the world and in our country, floods and storms caused significant damage in many regions. Particularly, the Mekong Delta region experienced a historic flood lasting four months, higher than the peak floods of 1937 and 1961, causing the most severe consequences in over 70 years, resulting in losses of 3.962 billion VND, including 1.376 billion VND in transportation sector losses and 680 deaths, with over 1 million houses submerged, road surfaces damaged and uplifted covering 1.9 million square meters, slope failures totaling 1.7 million cubic meters, and extensive damage to bridges and culverts in the central coastal and Central Highlands regions.

To thoroughly review, accurately assess the extent of damage caused by storms and floods in 2000, and propose measures to mitigate natural disasters in 2001 at the beginning of the 21st century.³ The Minister of Transportation instructs all Departments, Associations, General Corporations, Provincial Transport Departments, and units throughout the transport sector to strictly implement the following tasks:

1/ It is necessary to promptly conclude the work on storm and flood prevention in 2000, accurately assess the extent of damage to people, property, and transportation infrastructure, including the value and volume of damage such as bridges, culverts, roads, etc. It is essential to clearly analyze both objective and subjective causes.

2/ Based on practical guidance and handling situations ensuring traffic due to floods and storms, it is imperative to seriously review and draw lessons from strengths and weaknesses regarding the preparation of emergency materials, coordination between central and local units within the transport sector, and collaboration between Provincial Transport Departments and Provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Departments in flood recovery efforts in the Mekong Delta region. In the central coastal and Central Highlands regions along national highways, railway trunk lines, and local roads, proposals for solidifying and concrete lining of flooded routes and implementing the "living with floods" approach should be made.

3/ It is necessary to strengthen the Flood and Storm Prevention Committees from the Ministry down to each unit, prepare timely restoration plans for damaged routes, stockpile bridge beams, materials, rock baskets, etc., at each unit, locality, route, and area, inspect the safety level of weak bridges, ferry terminals, boat crossings, etc., to ensure traffic continuity.

4/ The Vietnam Highway Administration, Vietnam Railway Administration, Vietnam Maritime Administration, and Vietnam Riverway Administration must direct the Highway Management Zones, river management sections, railway management enterprises, and these units must closely coordinate with local authorities and Provincial Transport Departments to ensure smooth traffic on all routes under any circumstances, especially main routes like North-South, international transit routes, and mountainous and Central Highlands routes. Special attention should be given to preventing vessel collisions and protecting bridge piers where there is heavy water traffic, and rescue operations when dike incidents occur.

5/ General Construction Corporations for transportation works must develop flood and storm prevention plans from the start of the year for ongoing construction projects, particularly underground and underwater works. These corporations need to direct their units working on local projects to have flood and storm prevention plans, actively cooperate with localities to address the aftermath of storms and floods in their areas.

The Ministry requests all Departments, Associations, General Corporations, and Provincial Transport Departments to urgently implement the contents of this directive, submit comprehensive reports on flood and storm prevention in 2000 and plans for 2001 to the Ministry (through the Flood and Storm Prevention Committee) for early consolidation and evaluation to draw general lessons across the sector.

4/ The Vietnam Highway Administration, Vietnam Road Transport Association, Vietnam Maritime Administration, Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration shall direct the Road Management Zones, inland waterway management sections, railway management enterprises to closely coordinate with local authorities and Departments of Transportation to ensure smooth traffic on all routes under any circumstances, especially major routes such as North-South, international combined transport routes, mountainous and Central Highlands routes must be continuously unobstructed. It is necessary to focus on anti-drift and bridge pier protection work where there is heavy vessel traffic and emergency response when dike incidents occur.

5/ The General Construction Corporations for Transport Projects must have flood control plans from the beginning of the year for ongoing construction projects, particularly paying attention to underground works and underwater projects. These corporations need to instruct their units undertaking construction projects in various localities to develop flood control plans, proactively coordinate with localities to address the aftermath of storms and floods within their jurisdictions.

The Ministry requests that the Administrations, Associations, General Corporations, and Departments of Transportation implement this directive immediately, submit reports summarizing the flood control efforts in 2000 and plans for 2001 to the Ministry (through the Flood Control Board) so that the Ministry can promptly compile and evaluate overall experiences across the sector.