Directive No. 242/CT-BNN-TL on Strengthening Work to Ensure Safety of Reservoirs During the 2009 Rainy Season and Flood Period

DIRECTIVE

||| In 2008, weather conditions were complex and unpredictable, with the rainy season ending late. Northern provinces, especially the delta region, suffered severe flooding at the end of October. From early November 2008 to January 2009, major floods at level three warning levels occurred in central provinces.

||| Following the 2008 flood season, many reservoirs revealed certain safety risks.on ||| The spillway capacity was insufficient, posing a risk of water overflowing the dam crest and causing dam failure; when reservoirs were filled for extended periods, significant seepage through the dam body caused slope instability; joint failures in water intake structures led to seepage through the conduits. With the monsoon and flood season approaching, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development instructs the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct the following matters:

||| 1. Inspect all reservoirs within their jurisdiction, particularly those with large capacities and those at risk of losing safety, to develop timely repair and supplementary plans before the flood season; complete repairs and upgrades by May 20, 2009 for northern and Central Highlands provinces, and by August 31, 2009 for southern provinces; ongoing construction projects must urgently reach flood protection elevations.of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs||| 2. Strengthen flood control and storm response command bodies at all levels to have effective plans and capabilities for managing flood and storm responses. ||| 3. Review and supplement regulations, operational procedures for reservoirs, system operation procedures, and develop flood prevention plans (including evacuation plans for downstream areas) for large reservoirs and those at risk of losing safety, to be submitted for approval by competent authorities. ||| 4. Organize training sessions and utilize mass media to disseminate flood prevention plans for reservoirs and related safety information.on EDUCATION The decision to switch the issuance of coats, overcoats, windbreakers, and down jackets to other uniforms for civil servants working at the National Market Management and Development Agency is decided by the Minister of Industry and Trade.||| 5. Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development shall advise provincial People's Committees on directing and supervising units and agencies to implement reservoir safety assurance work, regularly reporting to provincial People's Committees and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

||| 6. Conduct a comprehensive review of all dams and reservoirs in the province to establish plans for repairs and upgrades in the coming years, to be reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Water Resources Bureau), specifically as follows:

||| - Categorize and classify all types of reservoirs in the province.

||| - Reservoirs currently under repair (all funding sources).

||| - Propose priority order for reservoirs requiring repair and upgrade.

||| 7. The Water Resources Bureau shall coordinate with the National Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, and relevant units to monitor weather developments, collaborate with the Office of the Central Flood Control and Storm Response Steering Committee to assist the Ministry in ensuring reservoir safety during the 2009 monsoon and flood season.

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- Statistics and classify types of reservoirs in the province.

- Reservoirs currently under repair (all types of funding sources).

- Propose the priority order for reservoirs needing repair and upgrading.

7. The Water Resources Department shall coordinate with the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, and relevant units to monitor weather conditions, and cooperate with the Central Steering Committee Office for Flood and Storm Control to assist the Ministry in ensuring the safety of water reservoirs during the 2009 flood season./.