People are assured of production thanks to Go Cong sea dyke project

From 1998 until now, the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has received over VND 500 billion from the government to implement the project of upgrading Go Cong sea dyke which is more than 21km long from Tan Thanh Commune to Vam Lang Town, Go Cong Dong District.

The project includes many items such as upgrading and renovating the dyke surface, making stone embankments for dyke foot, making sluice systems to prevent saltwater. Especially, the entire surface of Go Cong sea dyke has been concreted.

Go Cong sea dyke was formed more than 70 years ago. In the past, it was a narrow, earthen dyke that was responsible for preventing sea water from entering the field. Over time, the dike surface was eroded and flood-tide spread over the dike surface, causing damage to agricultural production of the people.

When the project of hardening the dyke surface has been completed, sea water hasn’t overflown into the fields any more. The life, production and activities of tens of thousands of households in Go Cong area have been safe. The Go Cong sea dike route is still an important road traffic route to meet the travel and freight needs of coastal people, creating a beautiful landscape for the development of the service industry and coastal eco-tourism.

According to Huynh Van Nam in Tan Dien Commune, Go Cong Dong District, the completed Go Cong sea dyke project has had the effect of preventing landslides, storms, and protecting agricultural production and life of people in the dike.

“At present, Go Cong dyke has been completed, the agricultural production of locals has also improved because they can produce more vegetables after planting 1-2 rice crops, earning VNĐ7-10 million monthly," said Nam.

Chairman of Tan Dien Commune’s People's Committee, Nguyen Thanh Phong told Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper that Tan Dien Commune has 6km of Go Cong sea dyke passing. This is an important dike to ensure the local sowing area. Thanks to that, the local government has made adjustments to the seasonal schedule to increase productivity and economic efficiency for the people.

“In order to ensure that people produce at the right time, especially with the current situation of flood tide and climate change, the locality has mobilized people to change crops and livestock such as rice cultivation for two crops, not for three crops like before. The transformation has ensured the quality of production and ensured the benefits for the people," said Phong.

Strong investment for projects

According to Tien Giang provincial Sub-department of Irrigation, in the 2016-2020 period, the province has handled 547 positions of riverbank and canal bank erosion with a total length of over 51,000 m and with a cost of over VNĐ346 billion. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 101 landslide points with a length of nearly 7,500m. The estimated cost of treatment is over VND 133 billion.

The Go Cong sea dyke is an important road traffic route.

In addition to the local funding, from 2018 to 2020, Tien Giang Province has received financial support from the government to handle 13 landslide points with a total length of over 7,000m. The total expenditure is over VNĐ407 billion, of which the government’s capital is VNĐ340 billion, the rest is paid by the province.

In 2021, Tien Giang continued to receive VNĐ150 billion from the government to prevent, resist and overcome the consequences of natural disasters to implement five projects. In which, there are three landslide projects with a total length of over 2,800m and the expense of over VNĐ110 billion.

Nguyen Tan Truong, deputy director of the Investment Project Management Board of Agriculture and Rural Development in Tien Giang Province said: “This year, the province received financial support from the government to deal with landslides. In which, the canal 28 has been invested to tackle about 900m of landslide. Currently, the completion progress is over 70 per cent. It is expected to be handed over in early December”.

In the situation of serious erosion of Go Cong coastal protection forest, in places where the forest is no longer or thin forest belt, they have been invested in building stone embankment for the dyke roof.

The project of upgrading Go Cong sea dyke supported by the government has disbursed over VNĐ511 billion so far.

Currently, the Investment Project Management Board of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang is completing the document to submit to the provincial People's Committee for approval of the Go Cong sea dyke upgrading project in the phase two. The project will repair two culverts under the dyke and build a new dyke to reduce waves with a length of about 12,500m. It is expected to be performed in 2022.