Van Nam
Benedito Braga, president of the World Water Council, speaks at an international conference in HCMC on April 2 - Photo: Van Nam
Speaking to the Daily on the sidelines of an international conference themed “Water, Energy and Food Security under Climate Change in the Mekong Delta” in HCMC on April 2, Braga said pollution in the mainstream river has yet to reach a critical level but water of tributaries had been heavily polluted.
The main reason of the problem is the fast development of urban areas in recent years, he said.
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand are suffering direct impacts from water quality change of the river.
Water quality from tributary rivers has turned worse. Therefore, nations along the basin should consider solutions for building up an urban wastewater treatment system now. Otherwise, the problem would cause bad impacts on human health, he said.
In addition, hydropower damming and flooding are also a big concern. Nations under the Mekong River Commission should discuss to reach an agreement on an operation mechanism of the upstream reservoir system to secure a win-win solution for all sides, Braga said.
For instance, there should be a connection between Laos and China in hydropower dam construction. However, the upstream reservoir system should be run in a way that helps Vietnam reduce flooding.
According to the Vietnam National Mekong Committee, hydropower projects have mushroomed along the mainstream and tributary rivers given rising population and economic development pressure. Demands for watering, fishing, aquaculture and waterway traffic have also increased.
The basin of the Mekong River covers a total land area of 795,000 square kilometers from the eastern of the Tibetan Plateau to the Mekong Delta, sheltering 20,000 plants and 850 fish species.
The area now has a population of over 60 million, raising demand for natural resources exploitation to serve food and energy security. Urbanization has taken place rapidly.
Over the past 20 years, over 3,200 MW of electricity output has been developed along tributary rivers of the Mekong River. Meanwhile, experts have estimated hydropower potential of the river at around 30,000 MW.
The second Summit of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) will take place in HCMC on April 5 with the theme “Cooperation for Water, Energy and Food Security in Trans-boundary Basins under a Changing Climate”. Vietnam will join others from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and dialogue partners China and Myanmar at the event.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
