Erosion along riverbanks in Long An Province’s Tân An City last year caused parts of four houses to fall into the Vàm Cỏ Đông River. – VNA/VNS Photo Bùi Giang

LONG AN – The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Long An will build erosion prevention projects along rivers to protect locals' properties and safety, the provincial People's Committee has said. 

One of the new erosion prevention projects is a 700 metre embankment along the Bảo Định River in Tân An City.

Construction on the project, which costs VNĐ56 billion (US$2.4 million), will begin this year. The project will prevent erosion and flooding, and improve environmental protection when completed in 2022.

The province will also speed up construction of ongoing erosion prevention projects this year, including one along the Cần Giuộc River being built in Cần Giuộc Town and Long Châu Commune in Cần Giuộc District. The project costs a total of VNĐ280 billion ($11.9 million) and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Last year, the province announced an erosion emergency of 2,400 metres long along the Cần Giuộc River in Cần Giuộc Town and Long Châu Commune.

Many erosion cases along rivers this year have occurred because of drought and heat, which have caused low water levels as well as cracks on soil embankments along rivers.

In Tân Trụ District, four large erosion cases occurred along the Nhựt Tảo irrigation system in February and March. They covered a total length of more than 210 metres along rivers in Bình Trinh Đông, Lạc Tấn, Quê Mỹ Thanh and Nhựt Ninh communes.

Of the four cases, one occurred at the Vàm Cỏ Tây River in Nhựt Ninh Commune, eroding more than 100 metres of the river bank.

Võ Kim Thuần, head of the province’s Irrigation and Rural Development Sub-department, said erosion along rivers in the Nhựt Tảo irrigation system will continue after heavy rains, and if the water levels of the rivers remain low. 

The People’s Committee has told the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with relevant departments and agencies to set up erosion prevention plans to ensure the safety and property of locals. – VNS