Environment

Land subsidence endangers Mekong Delta

The overexploitation of groundwater in the Mekong Delta has contributed to severe land subsidence, which could lead to devastating consequences if the practice continues, experts have said.
Land subsidence endangers Mekong Delta ảnh 1Nguyen Van Cu street in Can Tho city’s Ninh Kieu district was flooded by high tides in October last year. High tides and land subsidence have contributed to flooding in the city in recent years (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) – The overexploitation of groundwater in the MekongDelta has contributed to severe land subsidence, which could lead todevastating consequences if the practice continues, experts have said.

The delta, the country’s largest rice, fruit andseafood producer, is facing a land subsidence rate of 1 cm per year, with someareas reaching a rate of 5.7 cm, according to the Ministry of Natural Resourcesand Environment.

Can Tho city has the highest rate of landsubsidence, with more than 5 cm in most areas during the 2015 – 19 period.

Speaking at a seminar held in Can Tho ealier thisweek, Tran Quang Khai of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology’s WaterManagement and Climate Change Centre, said that if Can Tho continued exploitinggroundwater, most areas would become lower than sea level by 2100.

Flooding and high tides will also become moresevere, he said.

Construction projects in Can Tho have alsoworsened land subsidence.

"The delta exploits 2 million cu.m ofgroundwater a day, according to reports, but the reports do not include allhousehold-bore wells, so the volume is actually higher," said Khai.

The main causes for subsidence are reducedsediment supply due to upstream dams, river sand mining, and groundwaterexploitation, seminar participants said.

Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent expert on MekongDelta ecology, said the cost of using surface water is higher than that ofgroundwater.

He said the delta should develop zoning of areaswhere groundwater exploitation should be restricted.

Seminar participants said that raising publicawareness about the problem is needed and that the surface water and rain watershould be used more.

Strict legal regulations to protect groundwaterresources in the delta are also needed, they said.

Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the Can ThoPeople’s Committee, said the city has zoned areas where groundwaterexploitation is restricted and has taken measures to prevent the practice./.
VNA
#Mekong Delta #land subsidence #overexploitation of groundwater #Can Tho #flooding #high tides #Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment #updated Vietnam news #Vietnamplus #Vietnam News Agency
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