Tran Quang Hoai, Deputy Director of the General Department of Irrigation, said that due to climate change and excessive upstream mining activities, particularly sand mining, multiple rivers in the Mekong Delta had become deeper.

As a result, salinisation and coastal erosion, as well as water shortages, had worsened, he said, adding that the Hong and Thai Binh rivers in northern Vietnam had also been affected.

Concerned agencies and institutions have been asked to research the impact of exploitation activities and draft plans to reduce further degradation of the rivers.

Dr. Quach Duc Tin, Director of the Science, Technology and International Cooperation Department, said that to minimise illegal sand mining activities posing a serious threat to the environment, local provinces should ban miners from exploiting areas prone to massive erosion.

The localities should also maintain the riverbeds and waterway banks, and replenish rivers with sand, he said.

Many Japanese experts at the meeting shared insights about river management and ways to reduce the impact of riverbed degradation.

The workshop was the first of several events to be held between Vietnamese and Japanese agencies.-VNA