Exploitation and use of water resources in the Mekong River basin continue to have complicated developments.
Speaking at the conference to summarize the work in 2023, the direction and tasks in 2024 of 4 units in the field of water resources, Ms. Nguyen Hong Phuong, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the Vietnam Mekong River Commission, said that with nearly 95% of the Mekong River flow coming from abroad, water resources in the Mekong Delta (the region considered the number 1 rice granary in Vietnam) are vulnerable and very sensitive to fluctuations caused by development activities, especially hydropower development in the upper Mekong River region.
Currently, the exploitation and use of water resources in the Mekong River basin continues to have complex developments, as upstream countries accelerate the implementation of hydropower and irrigation projects to serve socio-economic development goals. These activities have caused Vietnam to witness unusual fluctuations in the flow regime, and a rapid decline in the amount of alluvium, sand, and nutrients to the Mekong Delta.
In fact, in recent years, the above fluctuations have become increasingly unpredictable with high frequency, causing many adverse impacts on the Mekong Delta such as: Extreme developments of floods and droughts; increased saline intrusion, deterioration of ecological environment and aquatic and fishery resources; increased riverbank and coastal erosion, seriously affecting economic activities related to water resources and threatening the lives of millions of people (most of whom are poor, dependent on water resources and related resources of the Mekong River).
In addition, according to Ms. Nguyen Hong Phuong, statistical data from 2010 to present also shows that the average rainfall in the dry season has decreased by an average of 10-30%, thereby reducing the dry season flow by 5-10%. In particular, there have been years in the Mekong Delta where severe droughts occurred such as in 2016 and 2020; combined with the increase in sea levels, the level of salinity intrusion has been severe, with salinity intruding 20-25km deeper into the river than the average of many years.
In particular, just counting the 2015-2016 drought and salinity alone, the estimated damage to the entire Mekong Delta region was up to about 5,500 billion VND.
Commenting further on the drought and saltwater intrusion situation in the Mekong Delta in the coming time, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Mai Van Khiem also warned that from January to February 2024, the El Nino phenomenon will continue to persist with a probability of over 95%. After that, the probability of the El Nino phenomenon will decrease to 60-85% in the period of March to May 2024.
Therefore, according to Mr. Mai Van Khiem, in the dry months of 2024, the Mekong Delta region is likely to experience drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion.
“If the saltwater intrusion continues with high salinity, some areas along the Tien and Hau rivers in Vinh Long, Can Tho, Ben Tre and Tien Giang may experience local drought and salinity for rice fields and fruit gardens,” Mr. Mai Van Khiem noted and recommended that people need to have a response plan and be proactive in dealing with saltwater intrusion.
Develop policies to encourage investment and use water economically and effectively.
In response to the above forecasts, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Mai Van Khiem said that localities in the Mekong Delta region need to develop specific plans and solutions to respond to the situation of earlier and deeper saltwater intrusion, in order to ensure enough water for the 2023-2024 Winter-Spring rice crop production, minimizing damage caused by drought and saltwater intrusion.
On the side of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, implementing the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry has also requested the hydrometeorological agency and related units to increase the frequency of thematic bulletins on the El Nino phenomenon, forecast rainfall and water resources in river basins; provide timely forecast information and warnings on water resources to help ministries, branches and localities develop appropriate response plans.
Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Hong Phuong, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the Vietnam Mekong River Commission, said that a comprehensive solution is needed to ensure water security for the country's number 1 rice granary.
Accordingly, to contribute to solving the challenges of water security in the Mekong River basin in general and the Mekong Delta region in particular, Ms. Phuong said that Vietnam needs to develop policies to encourage investment and use water economically and effectively; along with solutions to protect water resources, develop water resources; build and promulgate operating procedures for the irrigation infrastructure system serving multiple purposes.
In addition, localities need to enhance the capacity and operational efficiency of river basin organizations, effectively resolve inter-provincial, inter-sectoral, inter-regional and inter-national issues in the management, exploitation, use and protection of water resources.
Particularly for the Mekong Delta region, localities need to be proactive in response plans when there are forecasts and warnings of changes in water resources from upstream to the delta; as well as plans on seasons, crop structures; plans for water storage, maintenance and upgrading of water supply works, water regulation; be proactive in coordination, coordination, ensuring harmony of interests; increase awareness of effective and economical water use for people.
“Vietnam also needs to improve its early warning capacity on water resources in the Mekong Delta and disseminate information to the community and people. This needs to be done effectively and promptly,” Ms. Phuong recommended.
In international cooperation, Ms. Nguyen Hong Phuong proposed that Vietnam should continue to coordinate with member countries of the Mekong River Commission to promote the effective implementation of the Mekong Agreement to manage, exploit and use Mekong River water resources in a sustainable, fair and reasonable manner; strengthen cooperation with countries in the basin through bilateral and multilateral cooperation channels, especially the Mekong River Commission cooperation mechanism and the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation.
In particular, through these cooperation mechanisms, Vietnam also needs to continue promoting the sharing of information and data, upgrading analysis and assessment tools, forecasting tools, enhancing capacity for research and monitoring activities; effectively implementing regulations and procedures for water use and basin development strategies, and joint operational planning among riparian countries.
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