Decision No. 84/2006/QĐ-TTg Approves the Adjustment and Supplement to the Mekong Delta Irrigation Master Plan for the Period 2006-2010 and Orientation until 2020

 

Pursuant to …;

Approving the adjustment and supplementation of the Mekong Delta irrigation planning for the period 2006-2010 and orientation to 2020

______________________

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Water Resources dated May 20, 1998;

Pursuant to Decree No. 86/2003/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

PURSUANT TO THE PROPOSAL OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. Approving the adjustment and supplementation of the Mekong Delta Irrigation Planning for the period 2006-2010 and orientation to 2020 with the main contents as follows:

I. VIEWPOINT:

1. The irrigation planning must be consistent with the regulations on economic and social development of the Mekong Delta, sectoral and field planning, serving as a basis for effectively implementing agricultural production transformation planning, forestry, aquaculture, meeting requirements and promoting economic and social development, ensuring national defense and social security throughout the region.

2. The planning for developing irrigation aims at protecting and developing water resources in upstream areas and neighboring regions, harmonizing between engineering and non-engineering solutions, while minimizing adverse effects caused by water, especially floods and salinity intrusion, protecting the environment and sustainable development.

Closely integrating the planning for developing irrigation with transportation planning, residential planning, and other plans within the area; linking irrigation planning with flood control, soil desalination, and phytoremediation, ensuring unified, synchronized, and effective implementation.

3. Investment in building the irrigation system should serve multiple objectives and comprehensive purposes, leveraging advantages and strengths in agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry of the region, protecting the ecological environment for sustainable development, ensuring the consistency of the entire region, being suitable to the characteristics of each area, creating conditions to promote the development of other economic sectors, solving domestic water supply issues, and improving people's living standards.

Each proposed construction project of irrigation works must meet criteria related to economy, technology, society, and the environment.

4. Mobilize all resources from the state budget (central and local), other legitimate domestic and foreign capital sources, and contributions from the public to invest in the irrigation system of the region.

5. Efficiently utilize benefits brought by natural resources such as sediment-carrying floods, aquatic resources, and agricultural land sanitation, saline water with mangrove forests, coastal ecosystems, and aquaculture...

The planning schemes and solutions for developing irrigation in the region need to continue updating, adjusting, and supplementing to suit new needs and situations.

II. OBJECTIVES

1. General Objective

a) Studying, adjusting, and supplementing the Planning to create a rational irrigation system that serves practical agricultural, forestry, aquaculture production, rural development, addressing socio-economic and livelihood issues, environmental protection, and sustainable development;

b) Based on the content of this planning, relevant sectors and levels shall develop and adjust their sectoral and local planning to align with the overall development orientation of the Mekong Delta region and the entire Mekong River Basin;

c) Proposing priority investment programs and projects in irrigation and annual implementation plans for the period 2006-2010, with orientation to 2020;

d) Recommending and handling existing issues, continuing to study and supplement planning, including supplementing flood control planning to stabilize residents and develop transportation in flooded areas.

2. Specific objectives

a) Harmonious development of agriculture based on the dry season flow of the Mekong River and saltwater intrusion, with the following measures:

- Completing coastal dyke systems and along rivers to effectively serve agricultural, residential, and aquaculture development, and appropriate measures when salinity rises;

- Constructing saltwater barrier gates, freshwater retention structures, enhancing the capacity to provide freshwater from rivers, and efficiently using rainwater for coastal agricultural production areas to stabilize and expand sweetened areas.

For areas transitioning production, alongside freshwater storage, favorable conditions should be created to introduce saltwater into fields and rotate water for safe and sustainable aquaculture production;

- Reasonably scheduling planting seasons to conserve irrigation water during the dry season, improving the efficiency of freshwater use during the dry season;

- Accelerating the construction of flood control facilities to facilitate seasonal shifts and aquaculture development.

b) Developing flood management towards "living with floods" and minimizing impacts on low-flow periods, with the following measures:

- Enhancing flood control capacity for agriculture, residential areas, and infrastructure, considering the impact of upstream floods and the effect of flood control on aquatic resources and aquaculture development;

- Implementing balanced flood control measures at the beginning of the crop season (mainly through embankments) to ensure reduced damage to summer-autumn rice, stable and increased agricultural productivity, while capturing more sediment, food, and fish seed during early floods, minimizing negative impacts on the ecosystem and not obstructing the main flood flow.

Adjusting the structure and timing of crops to adapt to flood-controlled areas over time, facilitating aquaculture development;

- Minimizing the impact of flood control structures on low-flow distribution (in river canal systems) to enhance soil moisture retention, stabilize groundwater levels, and limit saltwater intrusion.

Assessing environmental impacts on flood-prone wetland ecosystems, particularly fish and aquatic species, including sensitive wetlands. Considering and evaluating reciprocal impacts of flood control on riverbed changes and erosion, especially on the Tiền and Hậu Rivers.

c) Continuing to stabilize and improve agricultural development on acid soils; properly addressing seed and cultivation technique needs for agriculture; perfecting irrigation, drainage, desalination, and leaching measures for stable production in currently used acid soil areas; continuing research investment to transform heavily acidified lands for other uses to enhance exploitation and utilization efficiency of acid soil areas.

d) Stabilizing the development of agriculture on saline land and enhancing the efficiency of structural changes in production in coastal areas through:

- Properly addressing fresh water sources in coastal areas to reclaim saline land, serve agricultural and aquaculture production, and improve the living standards of people in the region;

- Balancing agricultural and aquaculture production by investing in irrigation works, while accelerating the internal irrigation system to diversify production, especially for agriculture and aquaculture.

III. MAJOR TASKS AND MAIN SOLUTIONS

1. Major tasks

a) Coordinate with relevant sectors and localities to review and determine the development planning for each sector and locality, focusing on important economic sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, transportation, and population until 2010 and guiding until 2020;

b) Develop irrigation planning, including disaster management and water resource development in the Mekong Delta based on alignment with the development strategies of various sectors and levels;

c) Based on the irrigation development strategy, address key issues such as flood control, salinity control, drainage, acid water removal, land reclamation, and serving structural production changes to meet the socio-economic development goals of the Mekong Delta region.

2. Main solutions

a) Left Bank of the Tiền River

The left bank of the Tiền River includes three regions: North Nguyễn Văn Tiếp Channel, South Nguyễn Văn Tiếp Channel, and the area between the two Vàm Cỏ rivers. The main water supply for this region comes from the Tiền River, part from the Eastern Vàm Cỏ River (supplemented by the Dầu Tiếng irrigation system), and a small portion from rain. The primary discharge direction is downstream along the Tiền River and into the Vàm Cỏ river system.

The North Nguyễn Văn Tiếp sub-region primarily focuses on flood control, providing irrigation water for the sub-region, helping to remove acid water and push back salinity at the lower reaches, stabilizing the population, and developing infrastructure to withstand floods.

The South Nguyễn Văn Tiếp Channel sub-region mainly receives fresh water, blocks salinity, and needs to coordinate well with the northern sub-region in discharging floods into the Tiền River and protecting fruit gardens.

The sub-region between the two Vàm Cỏ rivers mainly controls saltwater intrusion, maximizes freshwater resources from the Tiền River and the Eastern Vàm Cỏ River, coordinates with the entire region in flood discharge and environmental improvement, particularly in the acid and saline areas, while preparing countermeasures when salinity rises, serving agriculture, aquaculture, domestic water supply, industry, and environmental protection.

b) Middle Region of the Tiền and Hậu Rivers

The middle region of the Tiền and Hậu Rivers is divided into four sub-regions: North Vĩnh An Channel, North Măng Thít River, South Măng Thít River, and Bến Tre. The main water supply for this region comes from the Tiền and Hậu Rivers. The primary discharge direction is towards the Hậu River and partially into the Tiền River.

The North Vĩnh An sub-region has favorable water conditions, so its main task is flood control for stable population and agricultural development.

The North Măng Thít sub-region also has abundant fresh water, so its main task is to enhance water supply and drainage capabilities, control floods using lateral canals, stabilize the population, develop agriculture (including protecting fruit gardens), and support flood discharge and drainage to stabilize the population and agricultural development.

The South Măng Thít sub-region's main task is to control salinity, provide fresh water for drainage, stabilize the population, develop agriculture and aquaculture.

The Bến Tre sub-region currently has the Ba Lai sluice-dam project, with the main task of controlling floods in the northern part of the province, controlling salinity, providing fresh water, discharging floods, and draining to stabilize the population, develop agriculture (including protecting fruit gardens), and support aquaculture in the southern part.

c) Cà Mau Peninsula Region

The Cà Mau Peninsula region consists of six sub-regions: West Hậu River, Upper U Minh, Lower U Minh, Quản Lộ - Phụng Hiệp, South Cà Mau, and the coastal area of Bạc Liêu - Vĩnh Châu. The main water supply for this region comes from the Hậu River via trunk channels and rain. Rainwater plays a very important role in the western, southern, and coastal sub-regions. The primary discharge direction is through the Cái Lớn - Cái Bé system, Ông Đốc, Gành Hào, Mỹ Thanh... and directly to the sea.

The main task of the West Hậu River sub-region is to control salinity, retain fresh water from rain, gradually provide fresh water from the Hậu River, stabilize the population, protect agricultural and aquaculture production, especially protecting the U Minh Upper National Park.

The Lower U Minh sub-region aims to develop according to sweet ecology, completing the Western Sea dyke system and along the Ông Đốc River, the saltwater control gate system under the dyke, improving skills in retaining and storing fresh water from rain, stabilizing the population, agriculture, and protecting the mangrove forest, including the Lower U Minh National Park.

The Quản Lộ - Phụng Hiệp sub-region is undergoing a transition of part of the sweetened land to aquaculture, requiring adjustments to the irrigation system, particularly paying attention to the demarcation of salt and fresh water to stabilize agriculture and aquaculture.

The South Cà Mau sub-region is a diverse and rich potential aquaculture area, with the main task of retaining and storing fresh water stably, forming systems to take salt and drain water for aquaculture.

The coastal Bạc Liêu - Vĩnh Châu sub-region has a strong advantage in industrial aquaculture, so its main task is to block salinity, retain fresh water from rain, actively drain and take salt according to requirements.

d) Long Xuyên Quadrangle Region.

The Long Xuyên Quadrangle Region's main task is to control floods, increase the ability to provide fresh water from rivers, drain and acid water removal, and control coastal salinity to serve stable populations, agricultural and aquaculture development, and infrastructure. This region has been developed with a relatively complete flood control system.

Continue to invest in developing irrigation to serve aquaculture, complete the flood control system, increase the ability to provide fresh water from the Hậu River and internal fields, acid water flushing, washing acid soil, and controlling salinity.

IV. LONG-TERM PLANNING DIRECTIONS WHEN THERE ARE IMPACTS IN THE UPPER REACHES

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead and coordinate with the Mekong River Commission, international organizations, and countries within the basin to regularly study and closely monitor the water situation both in terms of quantity and quality, promptly proposing proactive and appropriate solutions to address unfavorable scenarios for the national interest and the common benefit of countries within the basin.

To proactively respond to freshwater shortages during the dry season, the following measures should be prioritized:

1. Adjusting the agricultural production structure, scheduling planting times appropriately, using water efficiently, especially from March to May each year.

2. Dredging canals and arranging head and tail gates to regulate and store water when necessary.

3. Studying the construction of flood control reservoirs to store water for the dry season, supplementing water for irrigation, domestic use, tourism, etc.

After 2010, research the feasibility of constructing large-scale projects at river mouths to ensure a stable supply of fresh water for economic and social development and environmental protection.

Article 2. Implementation sequence of planning and investment capital

1. Based on the content of this plan and according to the annual state budget balance capacity stipulated by the State Budget Law, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, People's Committees of provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region, and relevant ministries and sectors need to prioritize the order of investment to ensure synchronization and effectiveness. Specifically, the planning should follow the priority sequence below:

a) Incomplete projects and ensuring synchronization to complete them for early use and effective development.

b) Urgent projects and those with high efficiency serving key programs for economic and social development in the region.

c) Projects protecting residents in flood-prone areas and major transportation routes combining transportation and water management.

d) Projects protecting fruit tree regions.

đ) Projects delineating saltwater and freshwater boundaries and serving aquaculture in open waters.

e) Flood drainage projects, sea dykes, and river mouth dykes.

g) Flood drainage projects spilling over into the Plain of Reeds and the Long Xuyen Quadrangle.

h) Main irrigation and drainage channels, land improvement works, and other remaining projects to complete field infrastructure.

2. Mechanism and estimated investment capital for hydropower projects in the Mekong Delta region.

a) During the period 2006-2010, the total estimated investment capital is approximately 14 trillion VND, including 5 trillion VND from the central government budget for constructing main works, source canals, and primary trunk canals (project list attached in Appendix I of this Decision). Local government budgets contribute 6 trillion VND (for small-scale works and completing secondary canals) and 3 trillion VND from local people and other legitimate sources to complete the internal canal system.

Prioritizing investment capital during the period 2006-2010 to complete ongoing projects and truly urgent works, putting them into operation as soon as possible according to approved targets and schedules.

Investment capital sources: annual state budget (central and local government budgets, government bonds, ODA funds), contributions from beneficiaries, and other legitimate sources.

b) Post-2010 and towards 2020

- Continuing to complete flood drainage works, salinity control, and remaining trunk canals for irrigation and drainage from previous periods. Initially implementing some large-scale salinity control and freshwater retention projects at the lower reaches of rivers such as Cai Lon, Cai Be, Ham Luong, Vam Co, etc.

Implementing other hydropower works serving aquaculture in coastal areas and rice-fish farming models in freshwater ecosystems (project list expected in Appendix II of this Decision).

- For project lists planned for implementation from 2011-2015 to 2020, they need to be prioritized and clearly define the investment capital structure from the central and local government budgets, mobilizing various sources of participation from beneficiaries, economic organizations, including ODA funds to implement the Plan.

Article 3. Implementation

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities:

- Directing the thorough understanding and implementation of the goals, contents, development orientation, planning solutions, and water resource protection and hydropower facility management plans for the 2006-2010 period and towards 2020.

- Guiding and inspecting localities in conducting detailed hydropower planning for each area.

- Cooperating with provincial people's committees to prioritize investment projects and works according to objectives such as aquaculture, high-quality rice regions for export, flood drainage, combined inland waterway transport, drought resistance, and saline intrusion prevention.

- Directing the specific determination of the investment capital structure from the central and local government budgets, mobilizing other sources including ODA funds, and proposing solutions and policies to attract investment for developing the hydropower system in the region.

2. Provincial People's Committees in the Mekong Delta region shall direct competent agencies to thoroughly understand and implement the Plan according to the unified guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and related ministries, sectors, and localities to balance and allocate annual investment capital according to the State Budget Law to implement the contents of this Plan. At the same time, it shall be responsible for monitoring and supervising investments to ensure that the capital for projects and works is implemented according to the set goals and effectively.

4. Other ministries and sectors shall, within their respective functions and duties, be responsible for closely coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committees of the Southern Provinces and Cities to effectively implement the amended and supplemented contents of the Mekong Delta Irrigation Master Plan for the period of 2006-2010 and the orientation until 2020, and at the same time consider adjusting their sectoral and local plans to be consistent with the contents of this Master Plan.

Article 4. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 5. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-attached agencies, and Chairpersons of the People's Committees of the Southern Provinces and Cities shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.