What is included in water resource planning in Vietnam?

What is included in water resource planning in Vietnam?

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 15 of the Law on Water Resources 2012 as amended by Clause 4, Article 5 of the Law on amendments to some articles concerning planning of 37 laws 2018, the water resources planning includes:

- Water resources planning, which is the national sector planning;

- Comprehensive planning for inter-provincial river basins and watercourses, which is the detailed planning aimed at realizing national comprehensive planning, water resources planning and regional planning. The planning covers a period of 10 years and its orientations cover a period of 20 - 30 years;

- Planning for protection, extraction and use of international water resources is the detailed planning that is formulated with the cooperation between countries sharing watercourses and contents of the planning shall be based on the agreement between countries sharing watercourses.

Subjects of the water resources planning are surface water and underground water.

People’s Committees of provinces shall direct water resources authorities to organize formulation of plan for extraction, use and protection of water resources and remedial actions against damages caused by water and include it in the provincial planning according to the national planning, regional planning and comprehensive planning for inter-provincial river basins and watercourses.

What is included in water resource planning in Vietnam? (Internet image)

Rules for formulating water resources planning in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 16 of the Law on Water Resources 2012 as amended by Clause 4, Article 5 of the Law on amendments to some articles concerning planning of 37 laws 2018, the principles of planning on water resources are as follows:

- The water resources planning and comprehensive planning for inter-provincial river basins and watercourses shall be formulated under regulations of the law on planning and the following rules:

+ The balance between surface water and underground water, between extraction and use of water resources and protection of water resources, prevention and remedy against damages caused by water is ensured;

+ Even distribution of benefits of water use among local authorities and ministries, between upstream and downstream is ensured;

+ Results of baseline surveys of water resources are based on.

- International planning for protection, extraction and use of water resources shall be formulated under the agreement between countries sharing watercourses and the following rules:

+ The balance between surface water and underground water, between extraction and use of water resources and protection of water resources, prevention and remedy against damages caused by water is ensured;

+ Even distribution of benefits of water use among local authorities and ministries, between upstream and downstream is ensured;

- In the cases where the planning that involves extraction and use of water resources is inconsistent with the approved comprehensive planning for inter-provincial river basins and watercourses, it shall be adjusted and implemented according to the water resources planning.

Bases for formulating comprehensive planning for inter-provincial river basins and watercourses in Vietnam

Pursuant to Clause 6, Article 5 of the Law on amendments to some articles concerning planning of 37 laws 2018, the bases for formulating comprehensive planning for inter-provincial river basins and watercourses include:

- Water resources strategy and water resources planning.

- Natural and socio-economic characteristics and specific conditions of each river basin and region, true potentials of watercourses and forecast of impacts of climate change on water resources.

- Demand for extraction and use of water by departments, local authorities and environmental protection authorities.

- Results of baseline surveys of water resources.

- Technical norms, standards and regulations promulgated by the competent authority.

- Regulations of international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory in the cases where the planning is related to international watercourses.

- Tasks of formulating the approved planning.

Mai Thanh Loi

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