Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed an official dispatch on Monday asking officials to ensure sufficient fresh water supply to residents in the Mekong Delta as saltwater intrusion is forecast to continue in the region until mid-May.

According to the official dispatch, the Mekong Delta has suffered long-lasting heatwaves and saltwater intrusion since early this year.

The region is expected to encounter three spells of saltwater intrusion, with the first occurring from April 8 to 13, the second from April 20 to 28, and the third from May 7 to 11.

These occurrences may lead to significant water shortages.

As a result, the prime minister tasked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Construction, and Mekong Delta localities with keeping a close watch on the situation and continuing to take measures to respond to heatwaves, droughts, water scarcity, and saline intrusion.

Such places must review every household in their precincts, especially those living in coastal areas and on islets, and ensure water supply for them.

They were also asked to review fresh water reserves to regulate water resources for locals’ daily life and production.

The chairs of all provinces and cities will be held accountable to the prime minister if residents suffer fresh water shortages.

PM Chinh required Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang to keep directing ministries, agencies, and localities, especially those in the Mekong Delta, to employ measures to deal with droughts, water shortages, and saline intrusion.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan was instructed to oversee weather forecasting and the dissemination of information to localities and residents.

He was charged with providing cities and provinces with strategies to address water shortages and saltwater intrusion..

Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi was told to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the authorities in relevant Mekong Delta localities to ensure the supply of water to residents and other demands.

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