Description

The Mekong Delta province of Tiền Giang has implemented various measures to prevent the increasing erosion along rivers and canals. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Tiền Giang, between 2016 and 2020, the province spent $13.9 million on 415 cases of erosion. In 2021, there have been over 50 serious erosion cases with an affected length of 2,700m and about US$1.54 million has been invested to solve this problem. Measures to tackle erosion include constructing erosion prevention projects, strengthening public awareness, growing hyacinth along riverbanks, enforcing legal regulations against violation on the protection of dykes and irrigation works. In addition, local authorities are asked to prepare a draft plan to prevent further occurrence after reviewing and categorizing the recurring erosion in various places. Furthermore, the province has appealed to the Government to provide funding for seven urgent erosion-prevention projects.

The Tiền Giang’s DARD also mentioned that the natural reasons for erosion are the weak foundations of rivers and canal banks, embankments and dykes, and changes in river flow due to climate change impacts. Human-caused reasons include the unsustainable use of boats and construction works along riverbanks.

Source & further information: “Tiền Giang steps up measures to prevent erosion along water bodies” at https://vietnamnews.vn, accessed on 25 November 2021.