Decision No. 144/1999/QĐ-TTg Approving the Flood Control and Utilization Plan for the Mekong Delta Region from now until 2010

DECISION

Approving the planning for flood control and utilization in the Mekong Delta region from now until 2010

period from now to 2010

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development at Circular No. 328/BNN/KH dated January 25, 1999, and the recommendation of the Chairman of the State Investment Project Appraisal Council at Circular No. 73/TĐNN dated June 4, 1999,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approving the planning for flood control and utilization in the Mekong Delta region from now until 2010 with the main contents as follows:

1. Objectives: Ensuring the safety of human lives, state and people's property, developing infrastructure, stabilizing people's livelihoods, ensuring national defense and security, contributing to the economic and social development of the Mekong Delta region towards industrialization and modernization.

a) For the shallow flooding area (with a flooding level below 1 meter): Implementing year-round flood control to ensure proactive and stable production, accelerating the speed of economic and social growth, and rural development.

b) For the deep flooding area (with a flooding level above 1 meter):

Controlling and utilizing floodwater to limit the influx of low-silt floodwater from Cambodia into Dong Thap Muoi and the Long Xuyen Quadrangle; regulating part of the floodwater to flow through the border via the Vam Co River and out to the West Sea to reduce the depth of flooding while taking high-silt floodwater from the Tien and Hau Rivers to increase soil fertility.

Proactively controlling floods over time to prevent early-season floods, creating conditions for mechanized harvesting, ensuring the safety of rice harvest during the Summer-Autumn season; increasing flood drainage capacity, reducing the depth of major floods, and preventing late-season floods to timely plant winter-spring crops, ensuring stable production of two seasons: winter-spring and summer-autumn.

2. Main solutions: Implementing investment in building a comprehensive system of works, integrating water conservancy with transportation and residential construction to proactively control floods throughout the year in the shallow flooding area. Controlling floods over time in the deep flooding area to ensure safe and stable living conditions for people in the Mekong Delta region, while creating favorable conditions for economic and social development, rural development, and environmental protection.

- The Long Xuyen Quadrangle: Building a system of works to control border floods from the Hau River. Implementing two main flood drainage routes, namely the Vinh Te Canal and the Tra Su - Tri Ton Canal. Constructing a system of works to prevent saltwater intrusion and retain freshwater along the West Coast. Improving and constructing a canal system for flood drainage combined with water supply and drainage within fields.

- Dong Thap Muoi: Building a system to control border floods from Tan Thanh - Lo Gach, improving and constructing a canal system for flood drainage into the Tien and Vam Co Rivers.

- The Western Hau River Area: Implementing year-round flood control for the Western Hau River area including:

+ Building a system of works to control floods from the Long Xuyen Quadrangle and the Hau River.

+ Improving flood drainage canals and constructing a system of works to prevent saltwater intrusion and retain freshwater along the Cai Lon River.

- The Central Tien and Hau Rivers Area: Implementing year-round flood control for the Central Tien and Hau Rivers area, excluding the northern part of the Vinh An Channel. Constructing a system of works to control floods, collect silt, and improve paddy fields while supplying water.

Article 2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the main managing agency for the planning, responsible for continuously monitoring, researching, and adjusting the planning content to meet the set goals; organizing and directing the implementation of the planning for flood control and utilization in the Mekong Delta effectively.

Article 3. The implementation of the planning for flood control and utilization in the Mekong Delta region from now until 2010 must ensure consistency with the content of Decision No. 99/TTg dated February 9, 1996 of the Prime Minister on long-term orientation and the five-year plan from 1996 to 2000 for water conservancy, transportation, and rural construction in the Mekong Delta region; sectoral and field planning, and must be consistent with the overall planning for economic and social development of the Mekong Delta region from now until 2010 approved by the Prime Minister. Flood control must be combined with tasks such as preventing saltwater intrusion, retaining freshwater, draining acidic water, improving paddy fields, and providing water for production and daily use.

Relevant ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of provinces in the Mekong Delta, based on their assigned functions and responsibilities according to their authority, are responsible for closely coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development during the implementation of this planning.

Article 4. This Decision takes effect from the date of signature.

Article 5. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies and agencies under the Government, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces in the Mekong Delta are responsible for enforcing this Decision.