A hydropower dam in China (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – China has increased the volume of water being released from Jinghong hydropower plant to the lower Mekong River.
From April 21, 1,500 cubic metres per second of water has been released, with this flow to be maintained until May 31.
During the first discharge phase from March 15 to April 10, China released 2,190 cubic metres per second, with the flow between April 11 and April 20 dropping to 1,200 cubic metres per second.
The information was announced by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat at a meeting in Hanoi on April 26 to call for support to implement the emergency response plan for drought and saline intrusion.
He said although water levels in the Mekong River rose in the first half of April, helping ease saltwater intrusion, water soon receded and saline encroachment got worse.
The increased discharge will help mitigate the situation in some areas in the Mekong Delta when the released water reaches Vietnam in about 18 – 20 days, he said.-VNA
