Bến Tre to build dyke along Hàm Luông River to prevent saline intrusion

HCM CITY – The Bến Tre Province People’s Committee has approved construction of a  dyke to prevent saltwater intrusion along a section of the Hàm Luông River extending from Ba Tri District to Giồng Trôm District.

The project, which will start soon and end in 2020, will cost about VNĐ46 billion (US$2 million).

The dyke, which will be 4.78km long, will connect with the existing dyke along the river in Ba Tri District and end at the Sơn Đốc 2 Sluice in Giồng Trôm District.

The project will include construction of two sluices and a bridge on the river section.

The dyke will help control flooding, high tides, drought and saltwater intrusion to more than 45,600 residents and 6,000ha of farmland along the river section, according to the People’s Committee.

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province, which has many rivers that run into the sea, is affected by saltwater intrusion in the dry season.

The project as well as others are being implemented to cope with climate change, according to the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Among the climate-adaptation projects are the Northern Bến Tre Irrigation Project, the Bến Tre water management project, clean water supply on Minh Islet, and the Southern Bến Tre Irrigation project. – VNS