Sand mining in largest irrigation lake ordered to stop
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has ordered a halt to all sand mining in Dau Tieng Lake, the largest reservoir in the country.
Dau Tieng irrigation reservoir discharging water (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) hasordered a halt to all sand mining in Dau Tieng Lake, the largest reservoir inthe country.
The ban was imposed on three southern provinces of Tay Ninh, BinhDuong, and Binh Phuoc, as per Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh’s order.
MARD also asked local governments to step up inspections andhandle violations in their jurisdictions in the Dau Tieng – Phuoc Hoairrigation system, focusing on managing the half-submerged land in the twolakes, and to relocate households illegally settling in the lakes.
The ministry also called for increasing protection forest areasand developing sustainable tourism in the area.
Dau Tieng – Phuoc Hoa Water Resource Exploitation One-memberCompany, tasked with protecting the lake’s resources in tandem withexploitation activities, was asked to work with each locality to develop amechanism that will aid multi-party inspection efforts.
Agencies and relevant organisations must carry out these plans andsubmit reports to the MARD prior to May 30.
Previously, on April 20, the Tay Ninh People’s Committee issued adecision requiring the suspension of all 11 sand mining companies that theprovince previously approved to exploit sand in the lakes.
Assessing the irrigation system’s condition with the rainy seasonis nearing, the Dau Tieng - Phuoc Hoa Water Resource Exploitation One-memberCompany also said many infrastructure components in the lake are in need ofmaintenance.
Dau Tieng – Phuoc Hoa irrigation system, with a water surface areaof 2,700 sq.km, can hold a total of 1.58 billion of cubic metres of water andprovide irrigation water for 100,000ha of farmland in the southern provinces ofTay Ninh, Long An, and HCM City’s Cu Chi district.
The system is also the main provider of water for industrialproduction and domestic use in Tay Ninh province and HCM City.-VNA
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Dau Tieng irrigation reservoir discharging water (Photo: VNA)
