Strengthening water resource management through four regional river basin committees

Four regional river basin committees for the Northern Region, North Central Region, South Central Region and Southeast Region have been established to enhance the coordination and supervision of activities related to protecting, regulating and allocating water resources, as well as monitoring the exploitation, use and protection of water resources and the river basin environment.

The establishment of the four River Basin Committees is based on Decisions No. 2756/QĐ-TTg on the establishment of the Northern Region River Basin Committee; No. 2758/QĐ-TTg on the establishment of the North Central Region River Basin Committee; No. 2759/QĐ-TTg on the establishment of the South Central Region River Basin Committee; and No. 2760/QĐ-TTg on the establishment of the Southeast Region River Basin Committee.

According to these decisions, the Minister of Agriculture and Environment serves as Chairperson of all four Committees; the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment serves as Standing Vice Chairperson; while the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade and the Deputy Minister of Construction serve as Vice Chairpersons.

Under the decisions, the regional River Basin Committees are intersectoral coordination bodies that assist the Prime Minister in studying, directing, coordinating and supervising the protection, regulation and allocation of water resources; monitoring water resource exploitation and use; protecting river basin environments; and preventing and mitigating water-related disasters. At the same time, the Committees participate in addressing cross-sectoral, inter-regional and inter-provincial issues arising in trans-provincial river basins under their responsibility.

Specifically, the Northern Region River Basin Committee is tasked with coordinating and supervising activities related to the protection, regulation, allocation, restoration, development, exploitation and use of water resources, as well as disaster prevention and mitigation, within the Red River – Thai Binh river basin, the Bang Giang – Ky Cung river basin and coastal river basins in Quang Ninh Province.

The North Central Region River Basin Committee is responsible for coordinating and supervising the protection, regulation, allocation, restoration, development, exploitation and use of water resources, along with disaster prevention and mitigation, in the Ma, Ca and Huong river basins and other river basins including the Tong, Yen, Lach Bang, Gianh and O Lau rivers.

The South Central Region River Basin Committee performs similar functions in the Vu Gia – Thu Bon, Tra Khuc, Ba and Kon – Ha Thanh river basins, as well as other basins including the Lai Giang, Ky Lo, Cai Ninh Hoa, Cai Nha Trang and Cai Phan Rang rivers.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Region River Basin Committee is tasked with coordination and supervision related to the protection, regulation, allocation, restoration, development, exploitation and use of water resources, and disaster prevention and mitigation, in the Dong Nai river basin and other basins including the Dinh, Du Du and Ray rivers, among others.

Dong Thai