Faced with increasingly complicated landslides and saline intrusion, Vinh Long province has decided to allocate more than VND1,000 billion to implement urgent dyke and irrigation projects to protect the safety of residents and key production areas.
According to the Vinh Long agricultural sector, since the beginning of the year, the whole province has recorded 137 landslides on riverbanks and coasts, with a total length of more than 7.7km, many of which are deeply in the residential land and production land of the people.
As a result, 521 households were directly affected, many houses and gardens were swept away, property damage estimated at over 25 billion VND, causing great disruption to the lives and livelihoods of people along the river.
Faced with that reality, the locality has identified investment in projects to prevent landslides and saline intrusion as an urgent task, prioritizing vulnerable areas and high-value agricultural specialties.
In Phu Son commune, a 1.1km riverbank reinforcement project with an investment capital of more than 126 billion VND is being implemented, aiming to protect the locality's unique seedling and ornamental flower craft village.
The Binh Dai coastal reinforcement project with a budget of 287 billion VND is being implemented, aiming to protect about 1,200 hectares of coastal land and more than 500 households from the impact of high tides and big waves.
Meanwhile, the saltwater-prevention dike from Tan Huong River to Cai Be Can (Mo Cay Nam District before the merger), with a capital of 205 billion VND, plays an important role in limiting saltwater intrusion and stabilizing the riverbank.
Notably, the Vam Mon culvert project and connecting infrastructure with a total capital of more than 384 billion VND are expected to control salinity and store fresh water for about 7,600 hectares of fruit gardens in Cho Lach (old) and Mo Cay Bac (old) districts.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Le Quang Rang - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province - said that irrigation works and embankments not only prevent landslides in the short term but also facilitate traffic, helping people feel secure in long-term production.
