An embankment along Phú Đa island in Bến Tre Province’s Chợ Lách District was eroded by waves and tides in October last year. – VNA/VNS Photo Trần Thị Thu Hiền

BẾN TRE – The Bến Tre Province People’s Committee plans to build two embankments to prevent river erosion in Bến Tre City and coastal erosion in Thạnh Phú District this year.

The two will cost a total of VNĐ110 billion (US$4.8 million), which will be provided by the Government.

One will be a submerged 688.9-metre dyke to prevent coastal erosion on Cồn Lợi Island and the other a 692-long one along the Bến Tre River in the namesake city’s Nhơn Trạch Commune.

They are meant to protect people’s lives and properties and public infrastructure in the two areas that have already suffered from erosion. 

The People’s Committee has tasked the Steering Committee for Managing Agriculture and Rural Development Projects with carrying out the two works.

It has ordered the Bến Tre City and Thạnh Phú District people’s committees to acquire the lands required for the dykes and relocate households affected by the construction.

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province has seen around 114.5km of river banks and 19km of coast affected by erosion in the last five years, affecting hundreds of households and resulting in 200ha of coastal land and 54ha of mangrove forests being lost.

In 2019 – 20 the province People’s Committee declared an erosion emergency in Ba Tri, Bình Đại and Thạnh Phú districts and Bến Tre City where a combined length of 6.9 kilometres was affected.

To mitigate further erosion, it will strengthen advocacy to enhance public awareness of the prevention of erosion along rivers and coasts.

Relevant departments and agencies will monitor areas facing high erosion risks to enable timely preventive measures.

They will make plans to dismantle and move houses and other constructions out of eroded and erosion – prone areas and relocate affected households.

The province has 112 eroded spots along rivers and eight along coasts, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

It is seeking funds from the Government for five erosion-prevention works in Bình Đại, Ba Tri, Mỏ Cày Nam, and Chợ Lách districts. – VNS