Vietnam has been drafting a national programme on water resources management aimed at saving between 8 and 10 percent of safe water consumption and ensuring national security on water supply.

The information was released by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen at a high-level national meeting in Hanoi on April 27.

He added that water sources will be tapped in a way that will ensure stable supply to meet both immediate and long-term demands.

Country Director of the Asian Development Bank Konishi said at the event that Vietnam is facing numerous challenges on water resources.

Water shortages and polluted water could constitute a barrier to Vietnam ’s development in future, he warned.

The ADB chief criticised Vietnam ’s serious limitations in water management in many areas, especially in industrial parks.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said the draft in the making is expected to help boost the economy, reduce poverty, protect the environment and improve living conditions amidst climate change, rising sea levels and plummeting water levels for fresh water resources, such as rivers, originating in other countries.

The scheme also calls for initiative to be taken to prevent and reduce pollution, drought and shortages of water in the dry season for 13 river basins, citing the Red, Thai Binh, Dong Nai and Mekong rivers as top priorities.

The draft includes financial tools such as tax exemptions and reductions, stimuli for investors both at home and abroad in protecting, tapping and using water in an economical way as well as effectively coping with changes in water resources./.