Da Nang and Quang Nam Province will research and select a suitable location on the Thu Bon River to supply water for Da Nang, aiming to gradually reduce the city’s reliance on the water discharge of hydropower plants on the upstream of Vu Gia River, and ensure the highest level of water security.

Leaders of the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment of the two localities agreed to propose the leaders of Da Nang and Quang Nam Province to approve the operation plan of the Coordination Committee for Vu Gia - Thu Bon River Basin and Quang Nam - Da Nang coastal area for the 2022-2025 period. Photo: HOANG HIEP

The agreement was reached at the consultation workshop on Wednesday to discuss the operation of the Coordination Committee for Vu Gia - Thu Bon River Basin and Quang Nam - Da Nang coastal area in the field of natural resources and environment, and seek solutions to respond to climate change. The event was jointly organised by the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment of the two localities.

Also at the workshop, representatives from the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province took part in a symbolic signing of the proposal on strengthening coordination between the two localities in the management of water resources, the environmental protection and response to climate change in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin and the Quang Nam - Da Nang coastal area during the 2022-2025 period.

Accordingly, the Departments suggested the Da Nang and Quang Nam Province authorities quickly remove and complete legal procedures to soon put into operation 2 automatic water quality monitoring systems in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin.

Close coordination will be made to regulate and operate hydropower reservoirs in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin in the upcoming rainy season in order to limit the impact on downstream areas of the two localities.

At the same time, it is recommended that the management and operation units of hydropower reservoirs in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin strictly comply with the regulations on the Inter-reservoir operation process in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin.

During the workshop, Head of the Urban Committee of the Da Nang People's Council Nguyen Thanh Tien highly appreciated and agreed with the proposal on the selection of suitable location on the Thu Bon river to supply water to Da Nang. The purpose was to gradually reduce the city’s reliance on the water discharge of hydropower plants on the upstream of Vu Gia River, and ensure the highest level of water security.

He also underlined a must-do for the two localities to take synchronous solutions in preventing saltwater intrusion, as well as protecting and developing protection forests in river basins.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Thanh Hoa proposed the Coordination Committee to coordinate with Quang Nam Province to have supervision or comments on the infrastructure construction in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin to reduce flood risks.

The municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to plan and build a reservoir downstream of hydropower reservoirs for the purpose of supplying domestic and production water to two localities.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Truong Xuan Ty said his province was finding it difficult to seek an eligible unit to build a set of tools for flood control of hydropower reservoirs to operate effectively, so it was in need of active support from Da Nang, central ministries and branches, experts, and scientists.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translating by M.DUNG