A woman is happy besides the clean water source in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk. – Photo vbsp.org.vn |
LÂM ĐỒNG – A rural sanitation and clean water programme for the Central Highlands and central southern provinces was launched yesterday in Lâm Đồng Province’s Đà Lạt City by the agriculture and rural development ministry (MARD) and the World Bank (WB).
The programme will be conducted in Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông provinces, besides Lâm Đồng in the Central Highlands, as well as the southern provinces of Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận.
The programme was earlier conducted in 14 northern provinces of Việt Nam.
The WB committed to give Việt Nam US$200 million for construction work and raising residents’ awareness about using clean water and toilets, Vietnam News Agency reported.
The funds will be given to provinces after their work is completed and will be accessed by a separate organisation.
One positive element of the programme is that all provinces are conducting the national target programme on clean water and sanitation in rural areas, and so have enough manpower and methods to do their work.
The provinces will receive some funds in advance to carry out their work, which will be checked annually.
Phạm S, deputy chairman of the Lâm Đồng People’s Committee, said the province had pledged to implement the programme well to join hands with the whole country in achieving sustainable development and the millennium development goals.
At present, about 43 to 85 per cent of the seven provinces have clean toilets. Gia Lai Province has the least number of clean toilets.
About 20 million people in the country do not have access to clean toilets. – VNS