PM directs landslide prevention in Mekong Delta

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung inspected a coastal dyke in Tan Thanh commune, Go Cong Dong district, one of the landslide hotspots in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, on September 27.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds a working session with leaders of 13 regional cities and provinces in Tien Giang province on September 27 (Photo: dangcongsan.vn)
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds a working session with leaders of 13 regional cities and provinces in Tien Giang province on September 27 (Photo: dangcongsan.vn)

During a working session with leaders of 13 regional cities and provinces in the afternoon the same day, PM Phuc requested them to take measures to completely deal with the problem.

As the Mekong Delta is the hardest hit by climate change, he affirmed that the Party and State will do their best to support regional development, and highlighted the need to apply modern technology to deal with landslide more effectively, restrict the exploitation of sand on rivers, and make proper residential planning.

The leader assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology to work with ministries and agencies to study landslide prevention in the Mekong Delta with specific and effective measures.

He said the Government would ask the legislature to allocate nearly VND3 trillion (US$130.4 million) for the effort during 2019-2020, adding that it will earmark VND1 trillion and other official development assistance to ensure the safety and lives of Mekong Delta people.

The PM also urged localities to effectively use the sum to help the Mekong Delta overcome the consequences of natural disasters. The ministries of planning and investment, agriculture and rural development, agencies and localities must also join the effort.

On the occasion, the PM also required launching the construction of My Thuan 2 Bridge in March 2020.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was asked to soon hold a conference on winter-spring crop production and deal with the shortage of fresh water in the region in the context of drought and saline intrusion this year.