Decision No. 05/2020/QD-TTg stipulates water levels corresponding to flood warning levels on rivers within the national territory.

Pursuant to …;

Regulations on water levels corresponding to flood warning levels on rivers throughout the country

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Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control dated June 19, 2013;

Pursuant to the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology dated November 23, 2015;

At the proposal of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

The Prime Minister issues this Decision to regulate water levels corresponding to flood warning levels on rivers throughout the country.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decision regulates water levels corresponding to flood warning levels at hydrological stations on rivers for flood prevention, response, and economic and social development.

Article 2. Applicability

This Decision applies to the national weather and hydrology forecasting and warning system; central and local disaster prevention and control agencies; other organizations and individuals involved in flood warning activities on rivers throughout the country.

Article 3. Principles for Flood Warning Levels

1. Flood warning levels are classifications of flood severity. Each level of flood is determined through a corresponding water level value specified at hydrological stations on rivers, reflecting the degree of danger posed by floods and the extent of flooding caused by them.

2. Flood warning levels are divided into three categories based on the characteristics, magnitude of flood water levels, and the impact of floods on dike safety, riverbanks, riverbeds, structures, and people's lives and socio-economic activities in the area.

Article 4. Detailed Regulations on Water Levels Corresponding to Flood Warning Levels at Hydrological Stations on Rivers

1. Water levels corresponding to flood warning levels at main hydrological stations on rivers throughout the country are specified in Appendix I attached to this Decision.

2. For locations within the management areas of provinces and centrally governed cities that have not been specified in Clause 1 of this Article, the provincial and municipal people's committees shall establish such regulations. For locations on river sections bordering between provinces, the relevant provincial and municipal people's committees must exchange and agree upon a unified regulation regarding water levels corresponding to flood warning levels at those locations.

Article 5. Responsibilities of Ministries, Sectors, and Localities

1. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

a) Receive and compile feedback from agencies, organizations, and individuals regarding the use of flood warning levels in flood prevention, response, and socio-economic development activities;

b) Conduct a review and evaluation every five years of the implementation of this Decision, submit proposals to the Prime Minister for consideration and amendment of the list of hydrological stations with flood warning levels and corresponding water levels, and report to the Prime Minister no later than December 25 of the year of review and evaluation.

2. Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Ministries: Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport, Construction, Industry and Trade

a) Based on their functions, tasks, and authority, organize the effective use of regulations on water levels corresponding to flood warning levels;

b) Annually conduct mid-term reviews and evaluations of the implementation of this Decision and submit reports to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (in accordance with the form prescribed in Appendix II attached to this Decision) before December 20 for consolidation.

3. People's Committees of Provinces and Centrally Governed Cities

a) Organize the establishment and issuance of regulations on water levels corresponding to flood warning levels at locations within their management areas that have not been specified in this Decision;

b) Organize the effective use of regulations on water levels corresponding to flood warning levels;

c) Annually conduct mid-term reviews and evaluations of the implementation of this Decision and submit reports to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (in accordance with the form prescribed in Appendix II attached to this Decision) before December 20 for consolidation.

Article 6. Transitional Provisions

Meteorological and hydrological activities, disaster prevention and control, and socio-economic development currently using water levels corresponding to flood warning levels on rivers according to Decision No. 632/QĐ-TTg dated May 10, 2010 of the Prime Minister regulating water levels corresponding to flood warning levels on rivers throughout the country will continue to be implemented until this Decision takes effect.

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Decision takes effect from March 20, 2020.

2. Decision No. 632/QĐ-TTg dated May 10, 2010 of the Prime Minister on regulating water levels corresponding to flood warning levels on rivers throughout the country ceases to be effective from the date this Decision takes effect.

Article 8. Responsibility for Implementation

1. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial and centrally governed city people's committees, heads of agencies, units, organizations, and individuals related to this matter are responsible for implementing this Decision. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in monitoring, urging, and inspecting the implementation of this Decision.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities in monitoring, urging, and inspecting the implementation of this Decision./