Directive No. 296/TTg on dike management, flood prevention, typhoon protection, and disaster mitigation in 1996

DIRECTIVE

OF THE PRIME MINISTER

On dike and flood control work, storm prevention, and disaster mitigation in 1996

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The weather in Vietnam during the first months of 1996 showed many unusual signs, with prolonged cold spells, little rain, and occurrences of tornadoes and hailstorms causing losses to people and property, damaging agricultural production in many provinces across the country.

To proactively respond to natural disasters such as floods and storms, ensuring the safety of lives and assets of the people and the State, creating momentum for the first year of the 1996-2000 five-year plan and commemorating the 50th anniversary of the tradition of dike management, flood prevention, and disaster mitigation (May 22, 1946 - May 22, 1996), the Prime Minister instructs central ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government to implement the following tasks well:

1. Organize the review of the implementation of the Law on Flood Prevention and Storm Control, the Law on Dike Management, and Decree No. 168/HĐBT dated May 19, 1990 in 1995 and previous years. At the provincial level, it is necessary to consolidate the specialized advisory agency for Flood Prevention and Storm Control and Dike Management under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to effectively fulfill their advisory role for their respective People's Committees (including provinces without dikes).

For sectors and levels that have undergone organizational changes and personnel adjustments, they must promptly stabilize and strengthen their organization to fully perform the tasks of flood and storm prevention, dike and dam management, and disaster reduction in 1996, particularly the People's Committee, the Flood Prevention and Storm Control Command, the Agriculture and Rural Development sector at each level, and the electricity industry must do this work well.

2. All levels and sectors need to proactively develop plans and measures to prevent and combat floods, storms, waterlogging, drought, forest fires, mountain landslides, crop diseases, and human and animal epidemics throughout the country in order to practically and effectively reduce natural disasters in 1996, minimizing losses to people and assets to the lowest extent possible.

Specialized agencies at all levels such as Flood Prevention and Storm Control and Dike Management, Water Resources Management and Hydropower Construction Projects, Forest Protection, Animal Health, Plant Protection, Fire Prevention and Fighting, Meteorology and Hydrology, Geology, Geophysics, and Epidemic Prevention... must implement their specialized disaster management work well, report promptly to the Central Flood Prevention and Storm Control Steering Committee and the National Committee for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction of Vietnam.

3. Provincial People's Committees and Flood Prevention and Storm Control Commands under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government, and the Vietnam Electricity Corporation must direct the inspection and evaluation of the quality of the dike, embankment, sluice gate, levee, dam, reservoir systems, power transmission lines, and other flood and storm prevention facilities, urgently complete repair plans for these facilities, especially those damaged by natural disasters in 1995.

Provinces and cities with dikes must complete regular maintenance of the dike, embankment, and sluice gate system before the flood and storm season, resolutely stop and strictly handle violations of the Dike Law locally, reinforce dike guardians and flood defense forces; organize training, drills, and increase patrols to immediately address any dike, embankment, and sluice gate issues to prevent them from becoming hazards.

Provinces and cities downstream of the Hoa Binh hydropower project and within the flooded area of the reservoir must rigorously check flood prevention plans for downstream areas and the Hoa Binh reservoir itself to protect residents in the reservoir area, operate the Hoa Binh reservoir according to regulations to adapt to all situations. Other reservoir projects such as Thac Ba, Tri An, Da Nhim, Thac Mo, Vinh Son, Ialy, Dau Tieng... also require similar attention.

Provinces along the Day River must prepare comprehensive backup plans to be ready to execute flood diversion orders when special adverse situations occur. Coastal provinces need to guide the people on proactive measures to prevent and combat storms and rising waters, especially paying attention to fishermen living in coastal lagoons in central Vietnam and those frequently working on fishing boats far from shore.

Provinces in the Mekong Delta prone to deep flooding during the rainy season should learn from past flood prevention efforts in 1994 and 1995, take specific measures to protect residents, proactively harvest summer rice, and prepare boats and fishing gear from the start of the rainy season.

Mountainous provinces and provinces with mountainous regions must plan the relocation of residential areas in areas often hit by flash floods, guiding the people on how to prevent and combat flash floods in places where they may occur.

Other provinces must prepare to deal with various types of natural disasters: drought, forest fires, crop pests, epidemics, landslides, flash floods, tornadoes, and hailstorms.

All provinces and centrally-administered municipalities must direct the effective implementation of the collection of funds for flood and storm prevention according to the Law on Flood Prevention and Storm Control to promptly address local sudden natural disasters.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government must assign specific tasks and responsibilities regarding forecasting and warning at the local level, dike management, and supervision to subordinate authorities at all levels, while taking measures to widely publicize the Dike Law and the Law on Flood and Storm Prevention through local mass media, disseminating lessons learned from disaster prevention to ensure understanding and compliance among the population.

4. Central ministries, sectors, and Flood Prevention and Storm Control Commands of central ministries and sectors such as Planning and Investment, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Science, Technology, and Environment, Construction, and Transportation have the responsibility to closely coordinate with localities in implementing plans to repair dikes, embankments, and sluices in the Red River Delta and the old North Four region; implementing flood and inundation prevention plans in the Mekong Delta; implementing basic flood prevention planning for coastal central provinces; and implementing plans to prevent flash floods in mountainous provinces.

The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training shall closely coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control to properly address financial issues and necessary policies related to providing support to localities affected by floods and storms.

The Ministry of National Defense shall allocate forces and means, and assign responsibilities to be ready to play a leading role alongside the vanguard forces of various sectors and localities in promptly responding to emergency situations, prioritizing dike protection against floods.

The Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Transport shall cooperate with the Ministry of National Defense to develop specific plans to protect fishermen and vessels operating at sea.

The Ministry of Interior shall ensure good maintenance of public order and security in all situations, particularly focusing on fire prevention and firefighting efforts.

The Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and relevant agencies such as Vietnam News Agency, Voice of Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television, newspapers, etc., must adopt diverse and appropriate measures to incorporate flood and storm prevention knowledge and disaster management into widespread community education.

The Land Administration General Department, together with relevant ministries and sectors, shall study optimal land management and usage measures to ensure safety from seismic and flood disasters.

The Hydro-Meteorological Service shall provide timely and comprehensive information about rainfall, floods, and storms to the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control to proactively guide responses to natural disasters.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall strictly direct dike management work, oversee reservoirs within its jurisdiction, and coordinate with the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control and the National Committee for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction of Vietnam to comprehensively implement flood and storm prevention and disaster reduction activities nationwide, actively participating in activities during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction in Vietnam.

5. The State Audit Office shall cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control to inspect and urge central ministries, sectors, and localities across the country to strictly implement this Directive and report promptly to the Government Office.