HÀ NỘI Viet Nam News -— The government has allocated VNĐ484.7 billion (US$21.7 million) to help 21 provinces tackle the consequences of drought and saline intrusion which have affected the 2015-2016 spring-winter crops.
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said the funds would come from this year’s central reserve budget.
Đắk Lắk will receive the largest amount, VNĐ57 billion ($2.6 million), followed by Ninh Thuận with VNĐ47.4 billion ($2.1 million) and Hậu Giang with VNĐ36.9 billion ($1.6 million).
The funds will also support the Bắc Hưng Hải and Bắc Nam Hà Irrigation Work companies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The companies will receive VNĐ21.6 billion (US$9.7 million) and VNĐ12.8 billion (US$5.7 million), respectively.
The PM called upon local authorities to use their local budgets and other legitimate sources of income along with money from the central budget to deal with the ongoing impact of drought and saline intrusion.
The funds will also be given to localities, namely Lào Cai, Phú Thọ, Hải Phòng, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Khánh Hòa, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Đắk Nông, and others.
The government had previously allocated VNĐ532.7 billion (US$23.9 million) to 34 localities affected by drought and saline intrusion. — VNS