The instructions were issued following a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on the risk of water shortages and proposed measures to ensure water supplies for domestic use and socio-economic activities in 2027, while also contributing to food and energy security.
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung asked ministries, sectors, and localities to closely monitor and update weather and natural disaster developments and proactively implement measures to respond to natural disasters and El Nino impacts. The measures should ensure that water shortages do not disrupt production, business activities, people’s lives, or economic growth.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was tasked with strengthening hydrometeorological forecasting and early warning systems, while issuing additional specialised forecasts to support the regulation and operation of irrigation and hydropower reservoirs and efforts to prevent drought and saltwater intrusion, particularly in areas at high risk of water shortages.
The Ministry of Construction was asked to develop and implement safe water supply plans based on different water resource scenarios, especially for water supply facilities that directly draw water from rivers without regulating reservoirs and those dependent on upstream reservoirs. These plans should take the most adverse scenarios caused by El Nino into account.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will develop plans for the efficient use of energy resources and prepare for potential water shortages in hydropower reservoirs in late 2026 and early 2027, particularly in the central and southeastern regions. It will also coordinate with downstream localities to minimise the impact of hydropower reservoir operations on other water demands.
Meanwhile, provincial and municipal authorities have been asked to advise farmers to adjust crop structures and planting schedules and reduce cultivated areas in locations where water supplies are forecast to be inadequate. They must also work with relevant ministries to develop water supply scenarios and plans for regulating and distributing water resources in river basins when shortages are forecast.
