VietNamNet Bridge – Many of the country's dykes are ineffective and desperately in need of repair but there is no money for the work, according to the director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Flood Prevention and Dyke Management Department.

Tran Quang Hoai said many of the country's dykes were unsafe and often damaged during flooding.

A number of dykes in Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh provinces have been poorly constructed, while sections of the dyke system from Quang Binh to Quang Nam provinces fail to meet safety regulations. Many of the dykes have a width of less than 3 metres.

"Most of dyke systems in the country are only able to withstand a level 9 storm and wind speeds of no more than 88kmph. Meanwhile, the country is bracing for level 12 storms with wind speeds of 133kmph," Hoai said.

Since 1953, more than 200,000 people have died in floods across the nation that have caused material losses of US$7.5 billion, according to the department.

Weather experts have warned that climate change would result in more severe and frequent storms and that Hai Phong, HCM City, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Ca Mau would be hit by rising sea levels.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, if sea levels rise by 75cm, 10 per cent of the country would be flooded, causing losses of US$12 billion a year. As much as 204sqkm of HCM City and 7,580sqkm of the Mekong (Cuu Long) Delta would be inundated by sea water.

In 2006, the Government approved two projects to upgrade dykes in the provinces stretching from Quang Ninh to Quang Nam, as well as embankments in provinces from Quang Ngai to Kien Giang in 2009-20, that would cost VND19.5 trillion ($975 million).

However, five years on, just 272km of the dyke system has been upgraded – one-fifth of the work. The remaining 1,400km are still in a state of disrepair.

Meanwhile, under another programme, just one of 14 projects has been completed a year. Thirteen projects are being implemented, while 60 others are still in the drafting stage.

The State spent VND3 trillion ($150 million) on dyke repairs between 2006-10. However, that money only covered about 25 per cent of the work, Hoai said.

"We are calling for funds from enterprises and organisations to repair the dyke system," he added.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News