HCM City (VNA) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has had ameeting with representatives from the Japanese Ministry of Land,Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism in HCM City to discuss the declinein the volume of sediment in Vietnam’s rivers.

Tran Quang Hoai, Deputy Directorof the General Department of Irrigation, said that due to climate change andexcessive upstream mining activities, particularly sand mining, multiple riversin the Mekong Delta had become deeper.

As a result,salinisation and coastal erosion, as well as water shortages, had worsened, hesaid, adding that the Hong and Thai Binh rivers in northern Vietnam had alsobeen affected.

Concerned agencies andinstitutions have been asked to research the impact of exploitation activitiesand draft plans to reduce further degradation of the rivers.

Dr. Quach Duc Tin, Directorof the Science, Technology and International Cooperation Department, said thatto minimise illegal sand mining activities posing a serious threat to theenvironment, local provinces should ban miners from exploiting areas prone tomassive erosion.

The localities shouldalso maintain the riverbeds and waterway banks, and replenish rivers with sand,he said.

Many Japanese experts atthe meeting shared insights about river management and ways to reduce theimpact of riverbed degradation.

The workshop was thefirst of several events to be held between Vietnamese and Japanese agencies.-VNA