VietNamNet Bridge – The Government has approved a project to modernise the natural disaster warning and forecast system at the northeastern region's hydro-meteorological centre, with the help of non-refundable aid from South Korea.

A meteorologist checks weather forecasting equipment. The Government has approved a South Korean-funded project to modernise the natural disaster warning system at the northeastern region's hydro-meteorological centre.

The project aims to improve hydro-meteorological monitoring and forecasting by upgrading the centre's infrastructure and providing intensive training for personnel.

The project is expected to take 36 months, with investment of US$3.97 million from South Korea and more than VND9.66 billion ($46,000) from the Vietnamese Government.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to collect opinions from the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance on the project. Sea dyke priority

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has asked relevant authorities to set up plans responding to super storms and hurricanes.

Hai asked the central steering committee on natural disaster prevention to develop plans to cope with super storms and hurricanes and report to the Government in June.

He also instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to build a map of projected flooding caused by rising sea levels and super storms.

The ministries of Planning and Investment and Finance were asked to balance the budget and report to the Government on the allocation of funding for repairing sea dykes, repairing reservoirs, constructing boat shelters, a tsunami warning system and relocation of affected households.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, must re-examine the supply and demand of water and set up strategies for dry areas.

VNS