Workshop discusses measures to ensure security of water resources

Ngo Manh Ha, deputy director of the Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said that the Australian Government has provided support for the country in multiple areas of Australia’s strengths.

Integrated water resources management, water scarcity management, and building a water security framework towards improving water security for the nation are among the main priority areas of links between both sides under the direction of the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The workshop therefore offered a good chance for both sides to share experience and knowledge related to water management, water resources allocation, and integrated planning of water resources, as well as discussing future co-operation orientations. 

Greg Holland, an expert of RMCG consulting group in Australia, said that Vietnam is currently in the process of developing and piloting an assessment framework in line with the current circular on minimum flow requirements and the draft framework for Vietnam linked to river basin planning. 

Dr. Nguyen Van Manh of the Institute of Water Resources Planning, proposed speeding up projects on water sources monitoring, along with clarifying the process of transferring the right to exploit and use water, and applying the planning of water distribution in irrigation works.

Talking points also focused on Australia's approach to water resources sharing in the event of water scarcity which can be used to establish river basin rules in Vietnam, the development of future pilot schemes relating to water resources distribution, and water resources reserves of river basins in Vietnam.