Directive No. 57/2006/CT-BNN on strengthening dike management and flood and storm preparedness

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the strengthening of dike management and preparation for flood and storm defense

In recent years, natural disasters have occurred consecutively in almost all localities across the country, causing damage to many sectors, among which many dike systems have been damaged. Weather patterns are becoming increasingly complex. To minimize the damage caused by storms, tropical depressions, and rain and floods to areas protected by dikes, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities with concentrated dikes to implement the following key tasks:

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I. Dike Management Work:

1. Strengthen inspection, urging, identifying, and promptly resolving difficulties and obstacles in dike management and maintenance; mobilize local resources to proactively handle unexpected incidents during the storm and flood season.

2. Inspect and take measures to prevent acts of digging soil, sand, and extracting other materials that affect the safety of dikes, banks, and sluices; compel organizations and individuals who have violated to restore the original condition of the works; direct the clearance of areas storing sand, gravel, pebbles, and other materials on riverbanks to prevent bank erosion and obstruct water flow during storms and floods.

3. Any act of encroaching on dikes for tents, storage of materials, goods, or unauthorized construction must be resolutely cleared immediately to ensure dike safety, facilitate inspection, and detection of incidents and organization of dike defense.

4. Direct the inspection of compliance with the permit decisions of project owners for permitted works according to the Law on Dikes; resolutely handle violations according to the law.

II. Ensuring Safety of Sluices Through Dikes During Rain, Storms, and Floods:

1. Inspect and review the current status of all sluices through dikes to identify damages to the works, based on which determine sluices that do not meet safety requirements and temporarily halt their operation to prevent flooding or permanently halt them with appropriate plans. Assign relevant agencies to develop dike protection plans, temporary halting plans, and these plans must be approved by the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city and have decisions assigning tasks to levels and sectors to prepare conditions and organize implementation.

2. For weak sluices that do not meet safety requirements and must be halted, in addition to flood prevention plans, support irrigation (or drainage) plans must be developed to reduce the impact on production and people's lives.

3. The use of sluices through dikes must strictly follow Operation Procedures. For sluices without Operation Procedures, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development must direct their immediate development and submission for approval by competent authorities to implement.

4. For sluices through dikes not managed by Water Resources Engineering Management Companies, the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city assigns the People's Committee of the district, town, or city under the province (collectively referred to as the district level) to designate managers and operators, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development organizes training for managers on Operation Procedures.

5. For sluices through dikes managed by Water Resources Engineering Management Companies or part of inter-provincial irrigation systems, the responsible managers and operators must establish specific regulations, clearly assign responsibilities, and closely coordinate between units and localities in implementing protective plans and handling emergency situations involving works.

III. Proactively Prepare for Dike Defense During the Flood and Storm Season:

1. Based on comprehensive inspections and evaluations of the current state of dikes, banks, and sluices before floods, the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city directs the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to cooperate with the People's Committee of the district level to review and identify damages or unfavorable factors that may cause dike safety issues and develop appropriate dike defense plans suitable for local conditions.

2. For provinces and centrally governed cities currently implementing projects to reinforce and upgrade sea dikes, the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city directs the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to cooperate with the People's Committee of the district where the works are located and related agencies to direct contractors to concentrate resources to accelerate progress and ensure quality to put the works into flood and storm prevention.

3. The People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city approves dike defense plans for provincial-level key works and delegates authority to the People's Committee of the district level to approve dike defense plans for key works within the district assigned by the provincial People's Committee.

4. Be ready to implement dike defense plans corresponding to each critical section and area according to the principle of "4 at the spot." Closely coordinate with military forces stationed in the area to implement dike defense measures according to approved plans and handle urgent situations when natural disasters occur. Be prepared to organize dike defense when there are large floods and storm surges, especially flood control plans. Sections of dikes affected by water flow causing bank erosion and places far from residents with difficult transportation must have timely response plans.

5. Ensure sufficient quantities and types of materials for dike defense for each section. In addition to existing national reserve materials on the ground, plans should 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, sufficient soil reserves and corresponding bags must be prepared along with suitable transport means, and no situation of passivity should occur during the flood season. Provinces and centrally governed cities must have detailed plans assigning each household near weak dike sections to prepare at least two bags of soil (including bag shells and soil) to be ready for mobilization when needed for dike rescue operations.

5. Prepare an adequate quantity and type of materials for dike protection for each route. In addition to the existing state reserve materials in the area, there must be plans to mobilize materials from the people (including materials and equipment of enterprises, agencies, and military forces stationed in the area). For critical sections of the dike, prepare an adequate amount of soil reserves along with corresponding bags and suitable transportation means, without allowing a passive situation during the flood season. Each province and city must have detailed plans assigning each household near critical dike areas to prepare at least two sandbags (including both the bag and the soil) to be ready for mobilization when needed for dike rescue operations.

6. Prepare conditions for timely flood distribution and delay. For provinces and centrally governed cities with flood distribution and delay areas, they must fully prepare all necessary conditions to ensure safety for residents in these areas; develop detailed plans for relocating people and assets out of the affected flood distribution and delay zones; inspect, review, and organize practice drills of plans to promptly address any shortcomings to avoid being caught off guard; be ready with embankment protection plans for flood distribution embankments.

7. For secondary levees that only maintain the specified level, if floods exceed this level, localities must proactively plan for evacuation of residents living within the secondary levee area and allow water to enter the secondary levee to prevent sudden breaches.

8. Direct and organize practice drills of embankment protection plans to check the preparation of materials, forces, equipment, techniques, command, and communication; promptly address any deficiencies to make the plans closely aligned with reality./.

THE MINISTER

      (Signed)


Cao Duc Phat