Long An proposes Central Government to support 157 billion VND to renovate and upgrade 33 works to prevent and combat drought and salinity

On the afternoon of April 14, information from the Long An Provincial People's Committee said that the province has just submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Ministry of Finance to support funding for drought prevention and control and saltwater intrusion in the dry season of 2023 - 2024, and at the same time serve long-term in the following years with the aim of creating a water supply source, controlling salinity, protecting production and people's lives. This funding source will be invested in implementing 33 projects.

Long An đề nghị Trung ương hỗ trợ 157 tỉ đồng cải tạo, nâng cấp 33 công trình phòng, chống hạn mặn- Ảnh 1. — The saltwater prevention sluice gate in Thu Thua district, Long An is in operation. Photo: Thien Long

Specifically, dredging water intakes of irrigation works and canal systems: 23 works, costing nearly 133 billion VND; installing field pumping stations: 2 works, costing 7 billion VND; extending clean water supply pipelines, purchasing water storage equipment for people, filtering salt water into fresh water, transporting domestic water to people, hospitals, and schools in areas with difficulty in fresh water sources: 8 works, costing nearly 30 billion VND.

Long An đề nghị Trung ương hỗ trợ 157 tỉ đồng cải tạo, nâng cấp 33 công trình phòng, chống hạn mặn- Ảnh 2. — Affected by saltwater intrusion, the prolonged dry season has caused severe water shortages for people. Photo: Thien Long

Among them, there are important projects such as: dredging and embankment of Doi Ma canal in Can Duoc district, Cay Gao canal in Thu Thua district, dredging and embankment of Nha Ram canal - Xom Bo canal in Can Duoc district, Hoa Phu main canal in Chau Thanh district. Upgrading, expanding and extending clean water supply pipelines to communes in Tan Tru district, upgrading, expanding and extending clean water supply pipelines to communes in Can Duoc district...

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Long An province, the system of works in the areas of Can Duoc, Can Giuoc, Tan Tru, Chau Thanh districts, Tan An city and the south of Thu Thua and Ben Luc districts has been basically completed. However, due to the characteristics of Long An province, many rivers and canals overlap each other.

Therefore, most of the intra-field canal systems in the embankment area have been heavily silted, the cross-section has narrowed, and have not met the capacity to conduct water, store water and supply water during the dry season.

Through actual surveys, some sluices are currently degraded and do not have salt-prevention gates, which is likely the cause of salt leakage into the fields.

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