Lao Cai water system to cost $30m

Residents of Sa Pa District in the northern province of Lao Cai access clean water. The province will invest $30 million to supply clean water by 2015. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngo Lich

HA NOI (VNS)— The northern mountain province of Lao Cai plans to invest more than VND630 billion (US$30 million) in a programme to supply clean water and improve sanitation from 2013 to 2015.

Dinh Van Suu, director of the province's Centre for Clean Water and Environment Sanitation, said funds for this year's programme amounted to VND71 billion ($3.38 million).

Next year it will triple to about $10 million and remain at this level for the next two years.

The programme aims to ensure 85 per cent of households can access clean water. Sixty five per cent will also receive lavatories. About 50 per cent of farmers who raise animals will be guaranteed fresh, clean water and waste-treatment systems.

The programme will also make sure all schools and health centres have pure water supplies.

Suu said the province would give preferential treatment to people in disadvantaged and remote areas, including ethnic communities.

It would also accept cash contributions and work efforts from those benefiting to strengthen co-operation between authorities and communities.

To ensure the success of the programme, a communication and education network would be set up to create a positive attitude towards a clean and hygienic rural environment, Suu said.

The province would raise the capacity of staff who supervised the programme to make sure water supplies operated efficiently.

Nguyen Dac Thuy, head of the provincial co-ordination office for the project, said that it was an urgent issue.

Currently, only 18 per cent of the province's population have clean water; 39.6 per cent of households and only about half of schools have hygienic water-closets.

And only 33 per cent of farms at present have hygienic breeding facilities. — VNS