Mekong Delta faces water management challenges
Challenges faced by the Mekong Delta in water source management were highlighted at a seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 13.
Both Vietnamese and German scientists said that water for irrigation and aquacultural farming is predicted to shrink. In Can Tho city for example, the underground water level is estimated to fall by 0.5 metres, even 0.7 metres in some places every year.
There are an increasing number of hydroelectric plants in the region leading to a negative impact on the environment, they added.
The Southern Institute of Sustainable Development (SISD) said water sources in many regional cities and provinces are heavily polluted due to urbanisation and rapid industrial development.
Prof. Dr. Bui The Cuong from the SISD said all activities to manage land and water sources have great influences on the population and land areas, as well as the use and quality of the land and water sources.
Therefore, studies of socio-economic impact on water source management should always take into account the diversity of local people’s livelihoods, he concluded.