Vice Chairman of Da Nang People's Committee Le Trung Chinh and his counterpart from neighbouring Quang Nam Province Le Tri Thanh on Monday jointly chaired a discussion about how to minimise impacts arising from the dredging of the Co Co River, which flows through Da Nang and Hoi An. In particular, solutions to saline intrusion were taken into account at the meeting.

To date, the 2 localities have already agreed on the review of construction investment projects along both sides of the river, hereby making appropriate adjustments to ensure the synchronism in terms of infrastructure, architecture, landscape, and cultural value along the river.

However, on 6 September, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment appraised the environmental impact assessment report on the project for dredging and constructing emergency floodwater drainage and anti-saltwater intrusion system along the river.

Accordingly, there was deep concern raised over possible saline intrusion which might affect agricultural production and water supplies at the Cau Do Water Plant once anti-saline intrusion dams on the river are dismantled for the dredging work.

Vice Chairman Thanh asked the departments of Transport of the 2 localities to mull the control of traffic density and technical sizes of boats circulating on this river because the water surface is quiet and the riverbed is narrow.

He also underlined a need for provincial agencies to work with consulting unit to review the input data and calculation methods, and run the simulation software to make the proper assessment of the saline intrusion situation once the dredging is completed, hereby submiting another environmental impact assessment report on the project to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment for consideration.

The Quang Nam leader also asked the Da Nang administration to take a long-term, radical solution to deal with saline intrusion in the Cau Do River.

In reply, Vice Chairman Chinh praised the Quang Nam authorities for supporting the construction of a temporary dam project at the mouth of Quang Hue River in Quang Nam Province’s Dai Loc District, and joining forces with his locality to urge the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment to adjust the national government-approved inter-reservoir operating procedures at the Vu Gia-Thu Bon river basin in order to push salinity out of the Cau Do River.

He affirmed that the project is of great significance in boosting socio-economic development of the 2 localities. He asked functional local bodies to work closely with Quang Nam partners to realise Vice Chairman Thanh’s suggestions, especially the overall review of construction investment projects along sections of the river which run though Da Nang.