Directive No. 03/NN-PCLB-CT on concentrating guidance to complete the dike repair plan early, strictly managing dike systems, and preparing all aspects to be ready for dike protection and flood prevention in 1997.

DIRECTIVE

REGARDING THE PROMOTION OF GUIDANCE TO COMPLETE THE UPRIGHTING AND REPAIR PLAN FOR DYES AND MANAGEMENT OF LEVEES STRINGS IN ORDER TO PREPARE EVERY ASPECT TO BE READY FOR LEVEE PROTECTION AND FLOOD CONTROL IN 1997

IN 1996, NATURAL DISASTERS OCCURRED IN MOST PROVINCES AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN TERMS OF HUMAN LIFE, PROPERTY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

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DESPITE THE SEVERE AND CONCENTRATED NATURAL DISASTERS, INCLUDING MULTIPLE CYCLES OF RAIN, FLOODS, AND STORMS, ESPECIALLY STORMS NUMBER 2 AND 4, WHICH CREATED AN UNFORTUNATE COMBINATION OF HIGH FLOOD LEVELS MEETING LARGE STORMS AND RISING SEA LEVELS, RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE TO MANY LEVEES AND SHORE PROTECTION STRUCTURES, THE ENTIRE MAJOR LEVEE STRINGS WERE MAINTAINED DUE TO THE CENTRAL PARTY AND GOVERNMENT'S RESOLUTE AND CONCENTRATED GUIDANCE, COLLABORATION FROM ALL SECTORS AND LEVELS, THE PEOPLE'S HIGH EFFORTS, AND THE TIMELY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MILITARY FORCES. THEREFORE, THE DISASTER IN THE IMPORTANT, POPULOUS PLAINS WAS AVOIDED.

THE WEATHER IN 1997 MAY BE EVEN MORE COMPLEX. TO MINIMIZE DAMAGES CAUSED BY RAIN, FLOODS, AND STORMS TO AREAS PROTECTED BY RIVER AND COASTAL LEVEES, THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT REQUESTS THE CHAIRMEN OF THE PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES WITH LEVEES TO CONCENTRATE ON GUIDING THE FOLLOWING KEY TASKS:

I. CONCENTRATE ON GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1997 LEVEE AND SHORE PROTECTION STRUCTURE REPAIR PLAN TO COMPLETE BEFORE THE FLOOD AND STORM SEASON.

1. BASED ON APPROVED FEASIBILITY STUDIES (INCLUDING THOSE APPROVED BY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND THOSE APPROVED BY THE PROVINCE), THE PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES MUST QUICKLY COMPLETE THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS PER DECREE 42/CP; STRONGLY PROMOTE CONSTRUCTION WORK BEGINNING IN JANUARY AND COMPLETE THE ENTIRE 1997 LEVEE REPAIR PLAN EARLIER OR ON TIME AS REQUIRED BY THE MINISTRY.

2. IT IS NECESSARY TO INSPECT AND ACCEPT THE WORK ACCORDING TO THE BASIC CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS FOR THE VOLUME OF WORK FUNDED BY THE STATE TO REPAIR DAMAGE TO LEVEES, SHORE PROTECTION STRUCTURES, AND DAMS CAUSED BY 1996 FLOODS AND STORMS, TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THESE COMPONENTS DURING THE 1997 RAINY AND STORMY SEASON. TO BUILD REMAINING CRITICAL PROJECTS, IN ADDITION TO THE 1997 STATE INVESTMENT BUDGET, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES ALLOCATE A SUITABLE PORTION OF THE LOCAL BUDGET, RAISE FUNDS FROM THE FLOOD AND STORM PREVENTION FUND, AND FULLY ENGAGE THE PEOPLE TO ENSURE THAT ALL LEVEES CAN BE MAINTAINED IN CASE OF SEVERE AND CONCENTRATED NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE IN 1996 OR WORSE.

3. FOR THE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES FUNDED BY THE STATE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND MAINTAINING OF LEVEES IN 1997, THE PROVINCE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE IS REQUIRED TO STRICTLY MANAGE AND INVEST IN THE RIGHT OBJECTIVES, WITH THE MAIN PRIORITY BEING THE PLANTING OF WAVE-RESISTANT TREES ALONG LEVEES, IMPROVING THE SURFACE OF LEVEES TO ENSURE THAT RESCUE FORCES AND EQUIPMENT CAN MOVE QUICKLY WHEN NECESSARY, HANDLING HIDDEN DANGERS IN LEVEES, AND PARTIALLY REPAIRING WATCHTOWERS AND HOUSES OF LEVEE MANAGEMENT TEAMS.

4. TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE INVESTMENTS AND THE EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE, THE PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES WITH LEVEES ARE REQUIRED TO STRONGLY MANAGE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1997 LEVEE REPAIR PROJECTS WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF CONSTRUCTION ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN DRAWINGS, HIGH QUALITY, AND ACCORDING TO POLICIES AND SYSTEMS, RESOLUTELY COMBATING WASTE, CORRUPTION, AND MISUSE.

II. STRONGER MANAGEMENT OF THE LEVEE SYSTEM

THE LEVEE LAW HAS DEFINED THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN MANAGING AND PROTECTING LEVEES.

LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF HANDLING VIOLATIONS OF THE LEVEE LAW IN 1995 AND 1996, THE MANAGEMENT OF LEVEES IN MANY PROVINCES AND CITIES HAS MADE POSITIVE CHANGES, BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME SHORTCOMINGS AND WEAKNESSES.

TO EFFECTIVELY PREVENT VIOLATIONS OF THE LEVEE LAW, THE CHAIRMEN OF THE PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES WITH LEVEES ARE REQUIRED TO:

1. ASSIGN AND CLEARLY DEFINE THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE DISTRICT, COUNTY, WARD, AND COMMUNE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES IN MANAGING AND PROTECTING CURRENT LEVEES IN THEIR TERRITORIES ACCORDING TO THE LAW. SPECIFIC PERSONNEL MUST BE APPOINTED TO MANAGE EACH SECTION OF THE LEVEE, REGULARLY IDENTIFYING HIDDEN DANGERS AND VIOLATIONS TO REPORT TO RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION. DURING THE HIGH FLOOD SEASON, THEY MUST BE ON DUTY DAY AND NIGHT, READY WITH RESCUE EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS. REGULAR CHECKS, REPORTS, AND DIRECTIVES SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ENFORCE LEGAL DISCIPLINE IN LEVEE MANAGEMENT AND FLOOD AND STORM PREVENTION. FOR AREAS UNDER RAPID URBANIZATION, SPECIFIC PLANNING MUST BE DONE, FOLLOWING THE LEVEE LAW, AND STRICTLY MANAGING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PLANS.

2. CONTINUE TO REVIEW STATISTICAL DATA, CLASSIFY, AND APPROVE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR HOUSES AND OTHER STRUCTURES WITHIN THE LEVEE PROTECTION ZONE.

3. FOR VIOLATIONS AFTER THE ISSUE OF DECREE 429/HĐBT ON DECEMBER 15, 1990, WITH RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION, THE PROVINCE CHAIRMAN SHOULD ASSIGN THE DISTRICT AND COUNTY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES TO COOPERATE WITH LEGAL PROTECTION AUTHORITIES TO COMPLETELY HANDLE THEM WITHIN THEIR AUTHORITY. FOR INTENTIONAL VIOLATIONS, PROSECUTION SHOULD BE INITIATED TO EDUCATE AND PREVENT NEW VIOLATIONS.

4. THE PRACTICE OF EXTRACTING SOIL WITHIN THE LEVEE PROTECTION ZONE FOR BRICK AND TILE PRODUCTION IS COMMON AND AFFECTS LEVEE SAFETY. THE PROVINCE AND CITY CHAIRMEN ARE REQUIRED TO ISSUE ORDERS TO IMMEDIATELY STOP AND PROHIBIT SUCH ACTIVITY; ASSIGN RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION DEPARTMENTS, TO CHECK CASES OF SOIL EXTRACTION WITHIN THE LEVEE PROTECTION ZONE, AND OBLIGATE VIOLATORS TO RESTORE THE AREA TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE.

5. SPECIALIZED FORCES MANAGING LEVEES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEVEE LAW AND TECHNICALLY HANDLING ANY DAMAGE TO LEVEES, SHORE PROTECTION STRUCTURES, AND DAMS DURING THE FLOOD AND STORM SEASON. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES PROVIDE FULL SUPPORT IN BOTH SPIRIT AND MATERIAL TO THIS FORCE TO ENSURE THEIR LONG-TERM SERVICE.

III. PROACTIVELY PREPARE ALL ASPECTS TO BE READY FOR LEVEE PROTECTION DURING THE 1997 FLOOD AND STORM SEASON.

III. PROACTIVELY AND THOROUGHLY PREPARE ALL ASPECTS TO BE READY FOR FLOOD AND STORM DEFENSE DURING THE 1997 FLOOD AND STORM SEASON

1. Floods and typhoons in 1996 caused significant damage to dike systems, and through the dike protection efforts in 1996, many sections of the dikes were found to be too weak, particularly in terms of height. Therefore, a comprehensive inspection of all dike, levee, and sluice systems is necessary. The People's Committees of provinces and cities with dikes must instruct the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development to cooperate with districts to conduct a comprehensive inspection immediately in the first quarter of 1997. The requirements for this comprehensive inspection include identifying changes, damages, unfavorable factors threatening the safety of the structures, and formulating timely and appropriate countermeasures to eliminate dangerous and unexpected situations for the dikes.

2. Based on the results of the comprehensive inspection, the evaluation of the quality of dikes, levees, and sluices, and according to the flood and typhoon resistance standards of each dike system, especially considering the most adverse scenarios that may occur, corresponding dike protection plans should be developed following the principle of "4 at the site." The dike protection plan for 1997 must focus both on overall dike protection and on protecting critical points, without neglecting either aspect.

3. According to the specific dike protection plans for each system, sufficient quantities and types of reserve materials must be prepared for each dike system, with particular attention given to mobilizing materials from the public, preparing detailed plans for mobilizing materials and equipment from enterprises and agencies located within the area. For sections of dikes where the increased height is still low and the cross-section of the dike is small, adequate reserves of earth and corresponding sandbags along with suitable transportation means must be prepared.

4. Before the minor flood season in 1997, it is required that the People's Committees of provinces and cities direct districts with dikes to organize dike protection drills to check the preparation in all aspects regarding materials, forces, means, techniques, command and control, and the level of ensuring two-way communication smoothness to promptly rectify any deficiencies and issues.

5. All forces participating in dike protection, including patrol and guard forces, dike protection emergency forces, technical staff, and commanders at all levels from province to commune, must be trained in contents suitable for their respective roles.

6. Whenever there is a warning of typhoons or floods, dike protection must be considered the central urgent task, and no level, sector, or locality can overlook or relax its efforts but must concentrate all resources to maintain the main dike systems to minimize losses caused by floods and typhoons to the lowest extent possible.