Kiên Giang seeks investments for 55 projects to mitigate natural disasters

Embankments built to create mud flats for growing mangrove forests in Kiên Giang Province’s Hòn Đất District. — VNA/VNS Photo Lê Huy Hải

KIÊN GIANG — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kiên Giang is soliciting investment in 55 projects meant to cope with climate change and prevent natural disasters and coastal and riverine erosion.

The newly approved projects include 14 in transportation, 15 in agriculture and irrigation, 20 in water supply, two in water drainage, three in wastewater treatment, and one in solid waste treatment.

One of the transport projects includes building a 3.1km road along the western coast of Phú Quốc Island at a cost of VNĐ2.2 trillion (US$86 million).

Another is an erosion-prevention embankment along Vịnh Thuận Yên beach in Hà Tiên City.

The 6.3km dyke will cost VNĐ640 billion ($27 million) and help cope with climate change and seawater rise, beautify the city’s urban area and foster tourism.

Kiên Giang has mobilised investment from various sources in recent years for projects to cope with climate change and natural disasters, and they have proven effective, helping improve people’s livelihoods and fostering socio-economic development, according to its People’s Committee.

It has built 37 irrigation sluices in the western sea dyke, and they are functioning effectively.

It is building 18 sluices and freshwater reservoirs on Phú Quốc and islands in Kiên Hải District, and various saltwater prevention projects along the coast in Rạch Giá City and Châu Thành and Kiên Lương districts.

It has asked the Government for funding for three urgent projects required for coping with climate change and preventing saltwater intrusion in rivers.

To cost a total of VNĐ2.85 trillion ($122 million), they include a saltwater prevention project in the western sea in Kiên Lương and Châu Thành districts, construction of 16 sluices in An Biên and An Minh districts, and building and upgrading water supply works in rural areas.  VNS