Current status of riverbank and coastal erosion and solutions to respond and overcome consequences

The coastal erosion situation at Con Nhan, Bao Thuan commune, Ba Tri district is increasingly complicated.

The work of advising the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue on direction, policies and overcoming the consequences of landslides and erosion has been timely and ensured. However, the landslide situation in some localities has not been promptly resolved.

Vice Chairman of Ben Tre City People's Committee Nguyen Truc Lam said that recently, deep saltwater intrusion and riverbank erosion have also affected the environment in the city, concentrated in My Thanh An, Nhon Thanh and Son Dong communes. From 2022 to now, the city has received investment from the Provincial Agricultural and Rural Development Investment and Construction Project Management Board to build embankments to prevent landslides on the Ben Tre riverbank in Nhon Thanh commune (phase 2); reclaimed land from 23 households and compensated for site clearance with a cost of 7,042 billion VND.

The city also focuses on operating 13 saltwater prevention sluices, which are effective in reducing saltwater intrusion deep into the mainland and preventing high tides. However, the sluice system is not yet closed and still pollutes the environment of canals such as Ca Coi canal, Thom canal, and Trom canal in My Thanh An commune.

The situation of landslides on river banks, canals and streams in Mo Cay Nam district is also complicated, affecting the lives and activities of the people. Through preliminary review and statistics, there are about 50 landslide and erosion points in the district with a total length of about 35km.

Vice Chairman of Mo Cay Nam District People's Committee Nguyen Quoc Hung said that for cases of households with houses affected by landslides, the district proactively coordinated with the province's functional departments to survey, evaluate and provide timely support. For landslides on embankments and dykes, the district focused on mobilizing forces to quickly overcome and handle the situation, while reporting to superiors for consideration and support for reinforcement, especially landslides at the reserve embankment along the Co Chien River and Thanh Long embankment to prevent further cases of dike breaches. Particularly for the landslide area on the Mo Cay River bank, the province's functional departments have invested in building an embankment with a total length of 1,663m; the total cost is about 110 billion VND.

Cho Lach district is located along the Ham Luong and Co Chien rivers, and is annually affected by salinity intrusion into the district, about 70 - 100% of the area from January to April of the lunar calendar, and high tides affect the entire district from August to December of the lunar calendar. With a dense river system, it is an advantage in terms of waterway transportation, but investing in dyke projects is very costly. In recent years, the district has promoted the construction of a dyke system to protect fruit orchards. By the end of 2024, there will be 242.49km of dykes and embankments, with a dyke area of ​​10,248 hectares of agricultural land, accounting for 92.13%.

According to Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee Pham Van Hon, the district will continue to implement plans to protect irrigation works and plans to prevent high tides on diked rivers, and dike protection plans according to the "4 on-site" motto approved by competent authorities according to regulations. Mobilize materials from the people to be ready to respond and overcome in case of construction incidents; prepare to mobilize shock forces, prevent natural disasters at the commune level to protect the dike.

The irrigation system in the district has been completed, basically meeting the needs of people's lives and production. The projects of inter-regional scale, the main river mouths and large canals have not been invested synchronously due to limited resources. Currently, there are more than 15 sluices bordering Ham Luong, Tien Giang and Co Chien rivers that have not been invested.

The landslide situation in Ba Tri district shows signs of increasing. Specifically, coastal landslides are concentrated in the coastal area of ​​Bao Thuan commune; riverbank landslides are concentrated in the area along Ham Luong river, the headland area on Dat islet. According to Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee Duong Van Chuong, currently the coastal area of ​​Bao Thuan commune has invested in a 3.9km long embankment with a total cost of about 500 billion VND supported by the central budget.

Regarding the situation of riverbank erosion, the District People's Committee regularly directs the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team for mineral exploitation on the Ham Luong River to strengthen inspections. From 2022 to 2024, administrative violations will be fined a total of VND 6,537 billion. At the same time, in 2025, when 3 sand mines on the Ham Luong River come into operation, it is expected that illegal exploitation will be reduced and the flow will be adjusted.

In Giong Trom district, from 2022 to 2023, the district will support funding for stabilizing residents in riverbank landslide areas for 10 households, with a total budget of 130 million VND. For households whose houses are affected by riverbank landslides and must be relocated to a safe place or stabilized in place, the district is considering allocating funds from the district-level budget reserve in 2024 to consider supporting about 64 households with a total estimated budget of about 1,670 billion VND.

The district has focused on effectively implementing the work of overcoming the consequences of natural disasters. Chairman of the District People's Committee Le Van Tuong said that the district has reinforced and repaired landslides on river banks, canals, and roads that have been eroded, affecting the travel of people in the communes of Binh Hoa, town, Phuoc Long, Hung Nhuong, Binh Thanh, Chau Hoa, Luong Phu, and Luong Hoa, with a total length of about 1,571m and a total cost of 3.499 billion VND.

Overcoming landslides in Cai Son Canal, My Thanh Commune, length 150m; repairing and overcoming landslides in Hung Phong Commune, length 986m; overcoming landslides on the road leading to the center of Son Phu Commune, length 114m. Total cost of implementation: 7 billion VND. Currently, the district is continuing to overcome landslides in Cai Son Canal, My Thanh Commune, with a length of about 110m, total cost of 2.5 billion VND.

Assessing the work of preventing and combating riverbank and coastal erosion, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Minh Canh said that local authorities and provincial sectors have regularly monitored developments and situations, organized inspection teams, surveyed and assessed the situation of riverbank and coastal erosion in key and vulnerable areas and areas at high risk of landslides.

The work of disseminating and popularizing legal regulations, raising awareness for officials at all levels and people about landslide and erosion prevention and control is focused on, especially for households currently living along rivers, canals and ditches. People are advised not to build or produce in places where landslides and erosion are occurring or are at high risk of occurring to avoid unfortunate landslide incidents, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property.

To be proactive in preventing, responding to, and overcoming the consequences of riverbank and coastal erosion, localities have proactively implemented the "4 on-site" motto; promptly reinforcing and handling areas at risk of landslides, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has coordinated with localities and relevant units to proactively advise the Provincial People's Committee to propose the Central Government to support funding for the province to invest in landslide prevention works to overcome riverbank and coastal erosion.

Specifically, investing in the coastal erosion prevention embankment of Thanh Hai commune, Thanh Phu district with a length of 1.37km; the Bung islet embankment of Thanh Phong commune, Thanh Hai with a length of 1.9km; the coastal protection embankment of Nhan islet, Bao Thuan commune, Ba Tri district with a length of 2.3km; the coastal protection embankment of Ngoai islet, Bao Thuan commune, Ba Tri district with a length of 0.8km; the anti-erosion embankment of Giao Hoa river bank, Giao Long commune with a length of 0.8km.

“In the coming time, it is necessary to strengthen communication work on natural disaster prevention and control, provide guidance on prevention and response skills for types of natural disasters that often occur in the province through mass media and many other forms to ensure that information reaches the people, especially in vulnerable areas, at high risk of being affected by natural disasters. Gradually invest in equipment, facilities, build databases, tools to support forecasting and warning. Continue to invest in projects to prevent and combat riverbank and coastal erosion. Complete irrigation and dyke systems in the province to limit the impact caused by saltwater intrusion. Organize regular disaster prevention and search and rescue drills. Be ready to deploy on-site response to ensure safety of people and property when natural disasters occur according to the motto "4 on-site", "3 ready" to proactively prevent, respond promptly, overcome urgently and effectively".

(Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Minh Canh)

Article and photos: Huu Hiep

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/thuc-trang-sat-lo-bo-song-bo-bien-va-cac-cac-giai-phap-ung-pho-khac-phuc-hau-qua-05042025-a144751.html