Long An to spend big to bring clean water to rural areas

The Mekong Delta province of Long An will invest over 796 billion VND (34.9 million USD) in the 2016-2020 period to bring clean, hygienic water to nearly 300,000 inhabitants in disadvantaged areas.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Long An (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Long An will invest over 796 billion VND (34.9 million USD) in the 2016-2020 period to bring clean, hygienic water to nearly 300,000 inhabitants in rural, remote, and border areas.

Sixty percent of the investment will be sourced from the State budget while the remaining is to be contributed by locals, social organisations, and businesses, according to director of the provincial centre for clean water and rural hygiene Ha Van Thiep.

The investment plan is part of the province’s effort to increase the rate of people having access to clean water from 23 percent to 45 percent, he said.

To improve the rural water programme’s efficiency, local authorities will strengthen the management of water supply stations and water quality, he added.

The locality will give priority to building large-scale water supply factories and encourage social investment in the field.

The programme is expected to improve health and living conditions for rural residents as well as increase their awareness of personal hygiene and environmental protection, Thiep said.

Currently, Long An counts 1,410 rural water supply facilities, which provides clean water for around 280,000 rural people, who make up 20 percent of the province’s total population.-VNA

VNA