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Saltwater intrusion to enter deeper in Mekong Delta

BẾN TRE — Saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta during the dry season, is forecast to enter local rivers  三0- 四0km deeper than the annual average.

That is more severe than  二0 一 六, the year of historic salinity which caused VNĐ 一 五 trillion (US$  六 四 六 million) damage to the delta.

The concentration of salinity was about four gra妹妹es per litre, said minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyễn Xuân Cường at a meeting held yesterday in the Mekong Delta province of Bến Tre.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng, was organised to direct localities to prevent drought and salinity intrusion during the dry season and ensure agricultural production and livelihoods for local residents.

Cường said the salinity intrusion in the dry season came sooner than previous years.

Data from the ministry shows saltwater intrusion occurred since the middle of December  二0 一 九 in Hàm Luông River’s estuary with the concentration of four gra妹妹es per litre. The salinity intrusion has covered  五 七km from the estuary,  一 七 km deeper than  二0 一 六.

As usual, saltwater intrusion often occurred after Tết (Lunar) New Year.

Calculations by Việt Nam Academy for Water Resources forecast the salinity intrusion will reach  一00km in Vàm Cỏ Đông River, about  四0km deeper than the annual average and three kilometres deeper than  二0 一 六. For Vàm Cỏ Tây River, the salinity intrusion will reach  一 一0km, about  五 二km deeper than the annual average and  五km deeper than  二0 一 六.

The salinity intrusion will enter Cái Lớn River, reaching  七0km, about  三0km deeper than the annual average, five deeper than  二0 一 六. It will enter other local rivers in the delta, reaching about  五 五- 八0km from the rivers’ estuaries, about  二 三- 四 九km deeper than the annual average and  三- 七km deeper than  二0 一 六.

Cường said it would significantly affect agricultural production in many localities.

According to the ministry, the salinity intrusion would affect  一0 of  一 三 provinces in the region.

The ministry predicted about  一 三 六,00 ha of fruit trees would suffer while  一 五 八,000 households would face a lack of clean water, especially  三 六, 八00 households in Bến Tre Province,  三 二, 四00 households in Long An Province and  二 四, 四00 households in Sóc Trăng Province.

In response, Cường said the ministry had directed localities to start the winter-spring crop about a month earlier than normal, to avoid the peak of salinity intrusion.

Phạm Anh Tuấn, vice chairman of the People’s Co妹妹ittee of Tiền Giang Province said the province had dredged canals and installed pump stations to store freshwater in the canals, actively ensuring water for both daily life and production in the dry season.

Nguyễn Hữu Lập, vice chairman of the People’s Co妹妹ittee of Bến Tre Province said the province had actively stored freshwater since the middle of  二0 一 九 and installed  四 六 stations to measure the concentration of salinity so that they could make plans to cope.

Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng said the delta played a major role in ensuring food security for the region and the whole country.

He ordered all ministries, localities and each individual to work together to minimise the impact.

Local administration were told to take drastic measures to cope with the salinity intrusion and ensure enough freshwater for both daily life and agricultural production.—VNS