Proposed Reservoirs in Mekong Delta: Balancing Water Supply and Environmental Concerns

At a conference on fresh water for the Mekong Delta, Dr. Vo Van Hai from the Association of Economics and Management Science presented a proposal to construct two reservoirs in Dong Thap and Hau Giang with capacities of 1 billion and 1.5 billion m3 of water respectively. These reservoirs aim to provide fresh water for the Southwestern provinces.

The first proposed reservoir in Dong Thap would be near Tram Chim National Park and have a capacity of 1.5 billion m3 of water. The existing irrigation system in the area is said to favor regulating flow in the dry season and supplying water to neighboring provinces. The estimated cost for this reservoir is about 67,000 billion VND, with nearly 8,000 households and 32,000 people being affected.

The second reservoir in Hau Giang would be near Lung Ngoc Hoang nature reserve and have a capacity of 1 billion m3 of water. The total investment for this project is about 68,000 billion VND. The construction of these reservoirs would benefit various provinces in the region by regulating water and preventing forest fires.

However, there are concerns regarding the technical and environmental challenges of building large-scale reservoirs in the delta area. This includes land clearance, impacts on local livelihoods, and environmental protection issues that need to be carefully considered. It is also suggested that small-scale reservoirs could be an alternative to reduce costs and facilitate easier water transportation. Authorities are encouraged to promote water resource management solutions at a national and international level to ensure sustainable freshwater supply to the region.