Directive No. 633-TTg on Preventing Damage Caused by Landslide Risks at Certain Residential Areas Along the Tiền River

DIRECTIVE

ON THE PREVENTION OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE RISK OF LANDSLIDES IN SOME POPULATED AREAS ALONG THE TIEN RIVER

In recent years, landslides have occurred along the banks of the Tien River, causing significant loss of life and property.

The areas at risk of landslides are mostly densely populated regions with fertile land, including cities such as Sa Dec, towns like Tan Chau and Hong Ngoc, and important ferry terminals like My Thuan.

According to data from the Ministry of Water Resources and local authorities in Dong Thap and An Giang provinces, there are deep whirlpools over 40 meters deep and wide radii. In some places, cracks have been found up to hundreds of meters from the riverbank and extend for 3-4 kilometers.

The Tien and Hau rivers, which are major tributaries of the Mekong River, flow through a delta region with weak soil foundations due to sedimentation. The natural phenomenon of river channel migration, especially at bends, creates whirlpools that cause bank erosion. Historical records show this has continuously occurred for hundreds of years and will likely continue. It cannot be ruled out that current factors such as weather, climate, geological conditions, and global or regional environmental changes may exacerbate this phenomenon in terms of scale and speed. Therefore, it is necessary to organize scientific research and forecasting carefully, based on which a system of technical solutions should be developed to address the increasingly serious situation of bank erosion.

To avoid significant damage in areas at risk of landslides, the Prime Minister requests the Ministers of relevant Ministries, Heads of government agencies, and Chairpersons of People's Committees in provinces bordering the Tien and Hau rivers to urgently implement the following tasks:

1- The Minister of Water Resources, Head of the Central Flood and Storm Control Committee shall lead, coordinate with related ministries and sectors, and together with the Chairpersons of People's Committees in provinces where the Tien and Hau rivers flow, to study and develop comprehensive plans including measures to regulate the river flow (where permitted), reinforce or rearrange urban planning along the riverbanks, and important infrastructure projects to proactively prevent long-term erosion. This forecast and plan must be completed and submitted to the Prime Minister by June 1995.

The Central Flood and Storm Control Committee needs to organize for experts from various scientific fields to continue investigating and surveying, providing official forecasts to provincial People's Committees and technical departments responsible for important infrastructure projects along both banks. It is necessary to identify areas at immediate risk of landslides, areas at risk within the next few years, and areas with potential long-term risks.

Immediately identify areas at immediate risk of landslides.

2- The Chairpersons of People's Committees in Dong Thap and An Giang provinces and other provinces bordering the river must immediately organize the relocation of residents, state agencies, health facilities, schools, markets, etc., still located in areas identified by the Central Flood and Storm Control Committee as being at immediate risk of landslides. Specific measures must be taken to stabilize the lives of the people during and after relocation.

The Chairpersons of People's Committees at provincial, city, and district levels must fully inform all residents in areas currently at risk of landslides, while issuing warnings and urgent evacuation orders. It is imperative to prevent any loss of life or property of the state and the people.

Provincial governments of Dong Thap and An Giang need to cooperate with mass organizations and the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the same level to mobilize the people to comply with evacuation orders, and encourage people in non-evacuation areas to provide material, land, and financial assistance to those who need to relocate.

The State will provide partial funding to alleviate difficulties for poor families relocating from dangerous areas. The amount of support will be calculated and proposed by the Chairpersons of People's Committees in the provinces and the Southern Flood and Storm Control Sub-committee. Initially, the Prime Minister agrees to allocate funds from the settlement program and rural clean water project to support Dong Thap Province with 4 billion dong and An Giang Province with 1 billion dong to assist poor families relocating.

3- For areas at risk of landslides within the next few years, it is strictly prohibited for the people and agencies to construct any new buildings. Urban planning, town development, road construction, and all basic construction projects in the Mekong Delta must strictly adhere to systems of disaster prevention measures against flooding and bank erosion along the Tien and Hau rivers, avoiding areas predicted to be at potential long-term risk.

Preventing disasters caused by the risk of landslides is a critical matter for the Mekong Delta population. Some issues require urgent action with high responsibility, while others require long-term research and comprehensive resolution. It is required that the Ministers and Chairpersons of People's Committees in the Mekong Delta, in their positions and responsibilities, directly address the tasks outlined in this Directive.