A section of Hồng River running through Hà Nội.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Water shortages have long plagued the south central, Central Highlands, Mekong Delta, remote areas and islands of Việt Nam, but this year, the country is determined to end this cycle of scarcity.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has just released a Master Plan on water resources planning for 2021-30, which aims to overcome drought and water shortages by 2025 effectively. 

Under the plan, by 2025, the rate of clean water use for the daily life of urban residents will rise to 95–100 per cent, while 65 per cent of the rural population will have access to clean water.

Under the plan, 90 per cent of water exploitation and use activities will be controlled; the efficiency and capacity of water exploitation and use will be improved, and water losses in the system of irrigation works will be minimised by 2025.

The master plan also aims to protect, control, prevent and minimise water sources' degradation, depletion and pollution. By 2030, 30 per cent of the total wastewater volume in urban areas has been treated and met standards before releasing into the environment.

This will improve and restore important water sources that have been degraded, depleted, and polluted in the country.

It will give priority to river sections flowing through concentrated population areas and water sources that play an important role in domestic water supply and service activities of socio-economic development, especially on the main streams of Hồng (Red) River, Cả River, Vu Gia - Thu Bồn River and Ba River.

Châu Trần Vĩnh, director of the ministry’s Water Resources Management Department, said that the master plan is an important milestone, marking the first national planning on water resources.

“It is the first national planning in the field of water resources,” he said.

It is the orientation for regulating and allocating water resources to serve the targets of the ten-year socio-economic development strategy during 2021-30, he said.

The master plan also concretes the guidelines and directions of the Party, National Assembly and Government, such as Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the 11th Party Central Committee on a proactive response to climate change and strengthening resource management and environmental protection under Conclusion No. 36-KL/TW, dated June 23, 2022 of the Politburo on ensuring water source security and safety of dams and reservoirs until 2030, he said.

The master plan is the overall orientation in the management, distribution, exploitation, protection and development of water resources, as well as the prevention and control of harmful effects caused by water.

He added that during the planning process, the ministry has closely coordinated with relevant agencies and localities to ensure synchronisation between the water resource master plan and other national master plans.

He said that the ministry also worked with many domestic and foreign organisations to exchange international experiences in the planning process.

At the event, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Lê Công Thành asked relevant agencies and localities to closely coordinate with the environment ministry in the master plans’ implementation.

Thành emphasised the importance of collaboration between various government agencies in ensuring the efficient, sustainable use and protection of natural resources and water and in achieving the socio-economic development goals set by the Party and State.

The master plan on water resources for the period 2021-30, a vision towards 2050, was approved by the Prime Minister following Decision No. 1622/QD-TTg dated December 27, 2022. — VNS