Directive No. 53/2000/CT-BNNPTNT/PCLB on completing the plan for repairing dikes, revetments, sluices, and preparing dike protection plans and flood prevention for the year 2000

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the completion of the plan for repairing dikes, revetments, and sluices

and preparing for flood protection in 2000

In recent years, natural disasters have occurred in almost all provinces and cities throughout the country, causing significant losses in many aspects, including damage to dikes and revetments in many places. The weather in 2000 may become more complicated. To minimize the damage caused by rain, floods, and typhoons to areas protected by dikes, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and cities with concentrated dikes to focus on completing the following key tasks:

I. COMPLETING THE PLAN FOR REPAIRING DIKES AND REVETMENTS.

1. Provincial People's Committees need to strengthen inspection, supervision, prompt identification and resolution of difficulties and obstacles, accelerate the progress of dike repair work; improve construction quality, complete the entire 2000 plan ahead of schedule; strictly implement current policies and regulations, thoroughly save resources, prevent waste and corruption.

2. In addition to central funding, provincial People's Committees must mobilize local resources to repair additional necessary items that the central government has not yet balanced, in order to minimize major incidents when floods and typhoons occur.

3. For maintenance, preservation, and prevention of deterioration of the dike system, provincial People's Committees must strictly direct and implement the approved lists and guidelines detailed in the Joint Circular between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

4. Localities that have not yet classified and clearly defined the responsibilities and authorities of district, county, town, and village People's Committees in managing and protecting existing dikes must immediately establish and issue documents before May 15, 2000. Those localities that already have regulations must inspect and urge all levels and sectors to comply with central and local regulations regarding dike management and protection, especially at the town and village level.

5. Inspect and take measures to immediately stop acts of digging soil or sand near the base of dikes or revetments, or far from the base but causing bank erosion, and require provincial People's Committees to immediately issue orders to halt such activities and firmly compel violators to restore the original condition.

6. All acts of encroaching on dikes for tents, storage of materials, goods, or unauthorized construction must be cleared by May 15, 2000, to avoid affecting dike inspections and protection.

II. ENSURING SAFETY OF SLUICES UNDER DIKES DURING THE RAINY, FLOOD, AND STORM SEASON

1. Immediately organize inspections and evaluations of the quality of all sluices under dikes to identify those that have exceeded their service life or are damaged to varying degrees, and develop plans for repairs or permanent closure.

2. Sluices deemed unsafe during the 2000 flood and storm season must have safety plans approved by the provincial People's Committee (including technical solutions, materials, funds, and specific assignments to units for implementation).

3. For weak sluices that must be permanently closed before the 2000 flood season, in addition to flood prevention plans, proactive irrigation (or drainage) support plans must be developed to mitigate the impact of closing the sluice.

4. The operation of sluices under dikes during the flood season must strictly follow the current opening and closing procedures. For sluices without established procedures, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development must develop and report to the provincial People's Committee for approval before the flood season to apply in 2000.

For sluices under dikes not part of the agricultural water system, the provincial People's Committee must designate individuals directly responsible for management and operation at the district or county level, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development must establish operating procedures and organize training for managers to understand and implement them.

For sluices that are critical inter-provincial or inter-county projects, the Management Council must establish specific regulations, clearly assign responsibilities, and closely coordinate among units and localities in implementing protective plans and handling emergency situations without negligence.

III. PROACTIVELY PREPARING FOR DIKE PROTECTION IN THE 2000 FLOOD AND STORM SEASON

1. Provincial People's Committees must instruct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to cooperate with counties to conduct comprehensive inspections and evaluations of dike conditions. Pay attention to identifying damages and unfavorable factors threatening dike safety and develop appropriate dike protection plans based on local conditions.

2. After evaluating the current status of facilities, develop, approve, and prepare to implement corresponding dike protection plans for each section and key area according to the principle of local materials, logistics, personnel, and command. Closely coordinate with military regions to arrange military forces stationed in the area to be prepared according to the approved dike protection plan.

3. Prepare dike protection plans for large and extreme floods, particularly for overtopping prevention. Each household in provinces and cities must prepare at least two sandbags (including bags and sand) to ensure immediate availability for dike rescue operations when needed.

4. Prepare conditions for flood diversion and delay. Provinces within flood diversion and delay zones must fully prepare conditions to ensure safety for residents in these areas, develop detailed plans for relocating people and assets out of affected areas, review and organize drills to promptly address deficiencies and avoid passivity. Be prepared with dike protection plans for diversion dikes, which have not been exposed to flooding for nearly 30 years.

5. Based on the 2000 dike protection plan, stockpile sufficient quantities and types of materials for each dike section. In addition to existing state reserves, plans must be made to mobilize materials from the public (including materials and equipment from enterprises, agencies, and military forces stationed in the area). For weak sections of dikes, adequate soil reserves and corresponding sandbag quantities and suitable transportation means must be prepared to avoid passivity during the flood season. Sections of dikes currently experiencing erosion due to water flow, especially those far from populated areas with difficult access, must have timely response plans.

6. For dike lines that only maintain at a level smaller than or equal to Warning Level II as prescribed, if floods exceed Warning Level II, localities must have plans to evacuate residents living in the flood-prone areas and proactively allow water to enter the flood-prone areas to prevent sudden dike breaches and avoid situations where the local interests of the flood-prone areas affect the flood discharge of the river and threaten the safety of the main dike.

7. Before the minor flood season in 2000, it is necessary to direct and organize drills for dike protection plans to check the preparation of materials, forces, equipment, techniques, command, and two-way communication; promptly supplement any deficiencies and shortcomings. Train the business skills for all participating dike protection forces, especially the military forces deployed in the area, to be completed before May 30, 2000. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is tasked to coordinate with the armed forces stationed in the area to organize technical training for dike protection for the armed forces according to the contents of Notification No. 164 TB/TW dated September 3, 1998, announcing the opinions of the Standing Committee of the Politburo. Provincial People's Committees organize the implementation of the above contents and report the results to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Provincial People's Committees organize the implementation of the above contents and report the results to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.