In the Dong Thap Muoi region of Long An, people dig ponds and drill wells to raise shrimp. What kind of thing does this need to be stopped?

For cases of self-conversion from rice-growing land to pond digging and well drilling to get salt water to raise white-leg shrimp in the Dong Thap Muoi area of Long An province arising from 2023 to present, violations must be handled in accordance with legal regulations, including being forced to restore the original land status and fill in the wells.

In recent years, although the People's Committee of Long An province and specialized agencies have issued many documents directing and recommending the farming of white-leg shrimp in districts of Dong Thap Muoi region, the spontaneous digging of ponds continues to expand and increase in area every year.

According to statistics, the area for shrimp farming in 5 districts and towns of Dong Thap Muoi region is nearly 592 hectares with 362 farming households, the total number of ponds is 1,466 ponds.

Of which, Moc Hoa district has 279.8ha (175 households), Tan Hung has 117.3ha (52 households), Tan Thanh has 80.5ha (70 households), Thanh Hoa has 71.3ha (48 households), Vinh Hung has 23ha (5 households) and Kien Tuong has 19.8ha (12 households).

According to the assessment, the cause of spontaneous pond digging to raise white-leg shrimp is also due to the local government's failure to perform management work well.

Specifically, the inspection and handling of violations in land use conversion and illegal well drilling for white-leg shrimp farming were not resolute and strict from the beginning.

To rectify and overcome the above shortcomings and inadequacies, not to disrupt land use planning, limit negative impacts on the environment, and affect agricultural production, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Nguyen Minh Lam directed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with the People's Committees of Tan Hung, Vinh Hung, Moc Hoa, Tan Thanh, Thanh Hoa districts and Kien Tuong town to continue propaganda work, advise people not to develop more white-leg shrimp farming areas; review and compile statistics on white-leg shrimp farming data and advise the Provincial People's Committee in directing work.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Lam also directed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to strengthen state management of land use, groundwater exploitation and environmental protection; inspect and handle white-leg shrimp farming households in converting from rice fields to shrimp farming, drilling wells to get salt water to raise shrimp and illegal discharge of waste into the environment by shrimp farming facilities.

Guide, monitor, and summarize the handling of violations in the field of management in localities; coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to regularly report to the Provincial People's Committee on implementation results.

The area of ponds for white-leg shrimp farming has increased in recent years in the Dong Thap Muoi region of Long An province.

The Department of Industry and Trade shall take the lead in coordinating with departments, branches and localities to work with Long An Electricity Company to propose solutions for coordinated management in the coming time, especially reviewing cases of providing 3-phase electricity to people who use it for purposes other than the original registration but instead switch to using electricity to raise white-leg shrimp.

Meanwhile, Tan Hung, Vinh Hung, Moc Hoa, Tan Thanh, Thanh Hoa districts and Kien Tuong town have stepped up propaganda and warnings to people about the immediate and long-term impacts of shrimp farming in freshwater areas; absolutely not allowing the development of new farming areas.

In any locality that allows the increase of white-leg shrimp farming area in the area, the Chairman of the District or Town People's Committee must be responsible to the Provincial People's Committee.

At the same time, localities must strengthen management, inspection, and strict handling of violations of the law on conversion from rice fields to shrimp farming, well drilling for salt water, and environmental protection. New cases must be resolutely handled and forced to restore the original land status.

The People's Committees of districts and towns must have a plan and roadmap to complete the handling, ensuring that there are no more cases of white-leg shrimp farming in the districts and towns of Dong Thap Muoi region.

Actively coordinate with institutes, schools and relevant units to research and select freshwater aquatic species to convert to suit local conditions, ensure compliance with regulations, protect the environment and increase people's income.

At a recent regular press conference of the Provincial People's Committee, informing the press about this issue, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh informed that the digging of ponds to raise white-leg shrimp in the Dong Thap Muoi region of the province has arisen since 2019.

From the beginning, the province's stance was not to allow drilling wells to get salt water for shrimp farming, because this activity has a very negative impact on the environment.

To prevent and handle violations of digging ponds and drilling wells to get salt water to raise white-leg shrimp on rice fields, recently, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment also established an inspection team to investigate shallow well drilling and improper land use in the Dong Thap Muoi region of the province.

The purpose of this inspection is to consolidate relevant records and documents to strictly handle cases of unauthorized conversion of land use purposes; drilling wells, digging ponds, and raising brackish water shrimp on rice fields. According to the plan, the inspection will end in November 2024.

According to Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, for cases of self-conversion from rice-growing land to digging ponds to raise whiteleg shrimp, drilling wells to get salt water to raise whiteleg shrimp arising from 2023 to present, violations must be handled in accordance with legal regulations, including being forced to restore the original land status and fill the wells.

For all shrimp farming households arising before 2023, the People's Committees of districts and towns shall organize propaganda and mobilize people to fill and seal their wells and shrimp ponds; conduct specific reviews and classifications depending on the violations to handle them according to regulations.

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