Decision No. 144/1999/QD-TTg ratifying the plan on the flood control and use of flood water in the Mekong River Delta Area for the period from now to the year 2010

8 OFFICIAL GAZETTE No. 28 (31-7-1999), DECISION No. 144/1999/QD-TTg OF JUNE 21, 1999 RATIFYING THE PLAN ON THE CONTROL AND USE OF FLOOD WATER IN MEKONG RIVER DELTA AREA FOR THE PERIOD FROM NOW TO THE YEAR2010. THE PRIME MINISTER Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government of September 30, 1992; No. 28 (31-7-1999) OFFICIAL GAZETTE 9 Considering the proposals of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development at Official DispatchNo.328/BNNIKH of January 25, 1999 and the head of State Council for Appraisal of Investment Projects at Official Dispatch No. 73/ TDNN of June 04, 1999, DECIDES: Article 1.- To ratify the plan on the control and use of flood water in the Mekong River delta area for the period from now to the year 2010 with the following major contents: 1. Targets: To ensure the safety for human lives, the property of the State and people, to develop the infrastructure, to stabilize people's life and to make contribution to the socio-economic development of the Mekong River area along the direction of industrialization and modernization. a) For the shallowly-submerged areas (with the depth of under 1 meter): To excise the control of floods during the year in order to gain initiative in coping with floods and stabilize production, with a view to accelerating the socio-economic growth and rural development rate. b) For the deeply-submerged areas (with the depth of over 1 meter): To control and use flood water in order to restrict the flood water with little alluvium flowing from Cambodia into the area of Dong Thap Muoi, (the Plain of Reed) and Long Xuyen quadrangle; to regulate flood so that it shall partly overflow the frontit:;r into Varn Co River to the West Sea. This is aimed at reducing the depth of flooded areas, while taking alluvium-rich flood water from Tien and Hau Rivers to increase the soil fertility. To take initiative in controlling floods according to seasons so as to prevent early-season floods, to create conditions for mechanization of the harvesting process, to ensure safety for harvesting the Summer Autumn rice; to increase the drainage of flood water, to reduce the flooding depth in the main crop, to prevent season-end floods in proceed with the Winter-Spring rice crop in time, stabilizing the production with two rice crops a year, the Winter Spring and Summer-Autumn crops. 2. The major solutions: For the shallowly submerged areas, to invest in the construction of an integrated system of works, associating irrigation with transportation and the construction of population quarters so as to take initiative in controlling floods throughout the year. For deeply-submerged areas, to control floods according to season so as to ensure the safe and stable life for the people in the Mekong River delta, and at the sall!e time, to create good conditions for the socio-economic development, the rural development, the betterment and protection of the ecological environment. In the Long Xuyen quadrangle area: To build a network for controlling floods overflowing the frontier and Hau River. To use Vinh Te canal and Tra Su- Tri Ton canal as the two major channels for flood drainage. To build a system of works along the western coast for preventing saline water, keeping and supplying fresh water. To upgrade and set up a system of flood drainage canals in combination with intra-field irrigation and drainage. For Dong Thap Muoi area: To build a network for controlling floods overflowing Tan Thanh-Lo Gach frontier; to upgrade and build systems of canals for draining floods into Tien and Varn Co rivers. For the western area of Hau river : To control floods throughout the year through: + Building a network for controlling floods flowing from Long Xuyen quadrangle area and Hau river into the area. + Upgrading flood-draining canals and building a system of projects along Cai Lon river for preventing saline. water and keeping fresh water. For the area in-between Tien and Hau rivers: To control floods throughout the year for the area in-between Tien and Hau rivers (except for the northern area of Vinh An canal). To build a system of works for flood controlling, alluvium holding in combination with water irrigation and field improvement. Article 2.- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the agency managing the plan, which has the responsibility to further follow, study and adjust the contents of the plan in order to attain the set objectives; the ministry shall work out a plan to organize and direct the implementation of the plan on the control and use of flood water in the Mekong River delta. 10 OFFICIAL GAZE I TE Article 3.- The implementation of the plan on the control and use of flood water in the Mekong River delta for the period from now to the vear 2010 must be m line ,,ith the contents of Decision No. 99/T~"' of F cbruary 09, 19% of the Prime Mimstcr on the long-term oricntati011 ,md the l 9'J(i-2/)()() 11\C' year plan, rcgarJing th-: Jc, dopmcnt or 1rrigatic,11, transportation, and rural deYelopment in 1hc Mekong River delta: with the plnn~ nr branches as \Yell ::i~ with the overall planning for ,. ·c10-cconomic dcye)opmcnt of tk: r .. • ~," mg kwer delta area fo1 t11c period from now to the year 20] () , · 1 ich :ms been ratified bv the Prime Mi,u.stcr. rhe control of floods must be combined,, 1th the pre, ention of saline \Yater, the maintenance uf frc:;h-,, at'-'' and the washing away of sourness, the field imprmemcnt and the creation of ,rntcr resources tor product10n and people's Ii\ dih0ud The ministries, concerned branches and the People's Committees of the Mekong River delta provinces, based on their functions, assigned tasks and competence, shall have to coordinate \Yith the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the implementation of this plan. Article 4.- This Decision takes effect after its s1gmng. Article 5.- The ministers, the heads ofministcrial le,el agencies and agencies attached to the GovernmcnL the presidents of the People ·s Committees of the Mekong River delta provmccs shall have to implement this Decision. For the Prime Minister Depu(v ?rime Minister NGUYEN CONG TAN !':Jo. 28 (~1-7-1999)