Environment
Ca Mau attempts to shore up dykes
  • | VNS | May 30, 2014 04:15 PM

About 80 per cent of the eastern and western sea dykes in the southern province of Ca Mau, which are nearly 200km in length, had subsided, according to the provincial People's Committee, and more than 40km had slipped away.


 A section of sea dyke system in southernmost province of Ca Mau. — Photo baodatmui.vn

Most of the rivers and canal systems in the province were also in bad repair, and a 1.3km stretch of the canal in Nam Can Town's residential quarter was seriously damaged.

The districts of Dam Doi and Nam Can saw banks split at 10 spots along 220m of canal and rivers on May 18, 19 and 20, causing dozens of houses to sink. Total losses were estimated at more than VND2 billion (US$95,200).

Tran Quoc Nam, deputy director of the Ca Mau Water Resources Department, said that local authorities had asked residents to move away from dangerous areas.

Fixing the damage to the eastern and western sea dykes was difficult due to strong waves and winds, he said.

In an effort to prevent further damage, rocks had been laid along the dykes, but strong waves had swept them away.

Since 2009, the province has invested about VND150 billion ($7.1 million) on repairs to its sea defences, but continuous battering from the elements has taken its toll.

The province did not have enough funds to repair all the dykes, said Nam.

Authorities there plan to ask the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Government for financial support to build a 6.4km embankment to protect the western sea dykes, estimated at about VND3 trillion ($142.8 million).

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