Some 215,000 people in the southern province of An Giang are staring at water shortage this summer because of saltwater intrusion and drought, the province’s agricultural official said.

Drought and saltwater intrusion will make some 215,000 people in the southern province of An Giang face shortage of water.

Director of the province Agriculture and Rural Development Department Tran Anh Thu said some 20,000 people in the districts of Thoai Son, Tri Ton would lack water for daily use in March and April because salt water had intruded into the Rach Gia–Long Xuyen canal that provide water for a local water supply plant.

Some 45,000 people in the two mountainous districts of Tinh Bien and Tri Ton may get little water due to drought, while 150,000 people could not be provided enough water as they were located away from the water supply plants.

Thu said drought and saltwater intrusion would likely hit more than 74,000ha of farming area.

The official said the province was taking measures to minimise the impacts of saltwater intrusion and drought, by  improving the water pipe network, dredging canals and reservoirs, as well as by instructing local residents about desalination. — VNS