Issue of water security should be proactively solved: official

It is urgent to develop a scheme to ensure water security for the period 2021-30, with a vision to 2045, affirmed Le Quang Huy, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment.

Huy made a statement at the session commenting on the Project on ensuring water source security, the safety of dams and reservoirs for the period 2021-25, with a vision to 2045, of the National Assembly Standing Committee.

Global issue

According to Huy water security is a global issue that has been much concerned in many countries and international organizations worldwide.

Vietnam is facing the risk of water shortage due to natural factors, the pressure of population growth, the challenge of urbanization, and the impact of climate change. Moreover, ensuring water security is also posing many challenges for the coastal areas of the country.

Currently, Vietnamese law does not have a concept of water security and lacks a legal framework for the multi-sectoral management of water security.

In addition, there is a shortage of synchronization and general coordination in water planning. Meanwhile, water governance is still at a weak stage, exploitation efficiency in water-using industries is still low, water is used wastefully and accessibility to water sources is unequal across regions.

Besides, the nation lacks focus on the water economy, mechanisms and policies to attract the participation of the private sector; therefore, investment resources for water development, which is extracted mainly from the state budget, are limited.

Water products have neither been considered as goods nor priced according to the market and the water finance is limited. As a result, the risk of water shortage is increasingly emerging while the awareness of society, individuals and state management agencies on water security, dam and reservoir safety is limited and inconsistent.

Developing water economy

According to the Standing Committee of Science, Technology and Environment of the National Assembly, the view of ensuring water security of the country should be based on an international approach and the specific circumstances of the country. Accordingly, some additional research needs to be done as followed:

Firstly, ensuring water security is an urgent issue, which should be proactively and fundamentally solved in a synchronous manner and by promoting endogenous water sources; protecting and developing water sources; preventing water pollution; preventing water-related natural disasters; mobilizing long-term investment resources for ensuring water source security, the safety of dams and reservoirs with a roadmap and key points; developing the water economy; considering water products as essential goods that should be managed and operated according to the market mechanism under the regulation of the state.

In addition, it is necessary to attract social resources and economic sectors to invest in the water sector and international cooperation in solving problems related to transnational water sources, while perfecting institutions and water management policies in the direction of integrated management on the basis of water use demand and value, application of modern science and technology in ensuring water source security, the safety of dams and reservoirs.

Regarding the specific goals of the Project to 2030, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy suggested the Government study and supplement content on reducing dependence on transboundary water sources and ensuring the national water security targets.

He also suggested developing a financial mechanism for water, protecting the development of forests and aquatic resources, conserving and sustainably developing the ecological environment, ensuring minimum flows for rivers, treating and restoring water resources that are polluted, degraded, exhausted, as well as proactively responding timely to all-natural disasters caused by water.

For the specific target to 2045, the Scheme needs to set a goal, which is to raise the national water security index to an effective level according to the international approach.

It is necessary to continue to improve the State's policies and laws, take the initiative in internal water sources, minimize dependence on water sources outside the territory, manage, forecast and regulate water, prevent floods, droughts, and saltwater intrusion, pollution, degradation, depletion of water sources, in addition to responding to climate change on the basis of modern science and technology.

Regarding the funding for the implementation of the Project according to the Government's report, the total capital demand in the 2021 - 2030 period is VND 610,000 billion, of which the central budget capital is VND200,000 billion, the local budget capital and socialization is VND410,000 billion.

 In the period of 2021 - 2025, the project will receive VND80,000 billion from the central budget and VND168,000 billion from the local budget and socialization. To ensure feasibility, the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment proposed the Government to fully synthesize the allocated funds in all sectors and fields approved by the National Assembly in Resolution 29 and compare with Resolution 23 of the National Assembly on the implementation of a number of key tasks in the first phase of the project.

 Through discussion, the majority of delegates of the Standing Committee of Science, Technology and Environment agreed with the Government's report on the need for the National Assembly to issue a separate resolution of the Government on this issue.