Ca Mau seeks help to deal with saline intrusion
The southern province of Ca Mau is seeking help from experts to solve drought and saline intrusion problems.
Since early 2020, 18,000ha of rice and 3.6ha of vegetables have been ruined. Over 20,500 households lack fresh water and subsidence were detected at over 900 locations. Nearly 200 metres of embankments were damaged after subsiding by 1.8 to 2 metres.
By February 24, many lakes, channels and canals in Tran Van Thoi District have completely dried up. There is no water for crop or inland waterway transport so farmers and traders have to spend more time and money to water the crops and transport goods.
Le Van Su, vice chairman of Ca Mau People's Committee, said some of the problems are a lack of a complete and closed irrigation system, decreasing underground water and rampant constructions near lakes and rivers.
"Even though Ca Mau is surrounded on three sides by the sea, its irrigation system is incomplete. Agricultural activities wholly depend on rainwater and underground water. We don't have any additional freshwater during the dry season at all," Su said.
He went on to say that the common problem in Ca Mau is there is a huge amount of excess water in the rainy season and severe drought in the dry season. The dry season in 2020 may last until May or June but subsidence and erosion are already getting worse and show no signs of improvement despite various efforts by the authorities.
At the meetings, experts suggested directing saline water into drying rivers and channels as a solution. However, this method needs to be calculated very carefully as it will largely impact all activities.
"Drying rivers, channels and canals mean the roads that run along them will be weaker so it can be a solution," said Tran Van Tan, head of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources.
However, Doan Minh Tam, vice head of Vietnam Association of Road and Bridge Science and Technology said the subsidence and erosion were very localised. Tam said the authorities should direct investors to deal with the subsidence spots.
Nguyen Truong Son, vice head of the General Department of Natural Disaster Prevention, urged Ca Mau provincial authorities to quickly survey and find the cause of the embankment subsidence on the west side and propose solutions.
Many experts at the meeting asked Ca Mau authorities to adjust the planning on the production area. The short-term solution is to store rainwater and tighten management over wells. The long-term solution is to direct the water from the Mekong River to Ca Mau.
Authorities in Ca Mau Province discuss measures to deal with saline intrusion on February 24
Since early 2020, 18,000ha of rice and 3.6ha of vegetables have been ruined. Over 20,500 households lack fresh water and subsidence were detected at over 900 locations. Nearly 200 metres of embankments were damaged after subsiding by 1.8 to 2 metres.
By February 24, many lakes, channels and canals in Tran Van Thoi District have completely dried up. There is no water for crop or inland waterway transport so farmers and traders have to spend more time and money to water the crops and transport goods.
Le Van Su, vice chairman of Ca Mau People's Committee, said some of the problems are a lack of a complete and closed irrigation system, decreasing underground water and rampant constructions near lakes and rivers.
"Even though Ca Mau is surrounded on three sides by the sea, its irrigation system is incomplete. Agricultural activities wholly depend on rainwater and underground water. We don't have any additional freshwater during the dry season at all," Su said.
He went on to say that the common problem in Ca Mau is there is a huge amount of excess water in the rainy season and severe drought in the dry season. The dry season in 2020 may last until May or June but subsidence and erosion are already getting worse and show no signs of improvement despite various efforts by the authorities.
At the meetings, experts suggested directing saline water into drying rivers and channels as a solution. However, this method needs to be calculated very carefully as it will largely impact all activities.
"Drying rivers, channels and canals mean the roads that run along them will be weaker so it can be a solution," said Tran Van Tan, head of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources.
However, Doan Minh Tam, vice head of Vietnam Association of Road and Bridge Science and Technology said the subsidence and erosion were very localised. Tam said the authorities should direct investors to deal with the subsidence spots.
Nguyen Truong Son, vice head of the General Department of Natural Disaster Prevention, urged Ca Mau provincial authorities to quickly survey and find the cause of the embankment subsidence on the west side and propose solutions.
Many experts at the meeting asked Ca Mau authorities to adjust the planning on the production area. The short-term solution is to store rainwater and tighten management over wells. The long-term solution is to direct the water from the Mekong River to Ca Mau.
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