The Vietnam Rivers Network (VRN) and the club of former National Assembly deputies held a seminar in Hanoi on May 16 to look into the status quo of pollution on Vietnam’s rivers and seek solutions to the issue. Speaking at the event, VRN head coordinator Dao Trong Tu said Vietnam is not strong in water resources as over 60% of its surface water originates from across the border, adding that half of the Vietnamese population of nearly 100 million lack water for daily use due to climate change. In the Red River Delta, exotic water account for half of the total surface water. Meanwhile in the Mekong Delta, the figure amounts to 90%. Vietnam’s water resource is facing the threat of degradation and exhaustion due to unsustainable development, pollution and weak management. Participants shared the view that rising population and socio-economic development will hike demand for water use. They highlighted the need to regularly inspect polluting establishments and businesses, and continue fine-tuning legal regulations, including strictly punishing violations, as well as thoroughly study the impact of construction works on rivers on the society and the environment. They called on the government to take drastic actions to make rivers cleaner. (VOV May 16)
