President Truong Tan Sang hailed the importance of national sea dykeprojects while inspecting one such development in the Mekong Deltaprovinces of Tra Vinh and Soc Trang on March 2.

The presidentstated that sea dykes help to control the tides, prevent salinisation,protect coastal property, support national security and reduce risks ofdrowning.

During his tour, President Sang was told thatstrong tides and waves have damaged thousands of metres of sea dykes andflood-preventing forests in recent years, causing property losses forlocals.

Over the past two decades, the sea has encroachedupon the mainland in Duyen Hai district, Tra Vinh province, by 2.5kilometres, swallowing 6,000 hectares of coastal land.

Meanwhile, serious landslides have also been reported along the 22-kmsea dyke in Cu Lao Dung district, Soc Trang province, which houses sevenanti-salinity culverts and seven bridges.

Despite residentsin Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces pouring tens of billions of donginto upgrading dykes, they have not found a way to prevent thelandslides and sea encroachment – which affect crucial localaquaculture.

The Mekong Delta is one of the three mostvulnerable delta belts that will face the backlash from climate changein the world.

It is forecast that by the end of the century,sea water levels may rise by one metre, submerging 40 percent of theMekong Delta, 11 percent of the Red River Delta and 3 percent of coastalprovinces.

On this occasion, President Sang also visitedseveral families of social policies in the two localities and supervisedthe implementation process of the Duyen Hai Electricity Centre projectin Tra Vinh province.-VNA