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| Multiple rivers in the Mekong Delta had become deeper due to climate change and excessive upstream mining activities, particularly sand mining.– Photo tinmoitruong.vn |
HCM CITY – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on Thursday in HCM City met with representatives from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism to discuss the decline in the volume of sediment in Việt Nam’s rivers.
Trần Quang Hoài, deputy director of the General Department of Irrigation, said that due to climate change and excessive upstream mining activities, particularly sand mining, multiple rivers in the Mekong Delta had become deeper.
As a result, salinisation and coastal erosion, as well as water shortages, had worsened, he said, adding that the Hồng and Thái Bình rivers in northern Việt Nam had also been affected.
Concerned agencies and institutions have been asked to research the impact of exploitation activities and draft plans to reduce further degradation of the rivers.
Dr. Quách Đức Tín, director of the Science, Technology and International Cooperation Department, said that to minimise illegal sand mining activities posing a serious threat to the environment, local provinces should ban miners from exploiting areas prone to massive erosion.
The localities should also maintain the riverbeds and waterway banks, and replenish rivers with sand, he said.
Many Japanese experts at the meeting shared insights about river management and ways to reduce the impact of riverbed degradation.
The workshop was the first of several events to be held between Vietnamese and Japanese agencies. –VNS
