Many difficulties left in irrigation investment in Dong Nai

On the afternoon of September 15, Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, chaired a working session with the Department of Agriculture and Environment and relevant units and localities on irrigation management, exploitation, and investment in the construction of irrigation works across the province.

Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, chairs the working session. Photo: B. Nguyen

Dong Nai currently has 215 operational irrigation facilities, including 83 reservoirs, 65 weirs, and 41 pumping stations. Under the 2025 plan, the total area for irrigation, drainage, and water supply in the province is expected to reach nearly 76,400 hectares, while water supply for domestic and industrial use is projected to reach approximately 54.4 million cubic meters per year.

In the first six months of 2025, irrigation facilities across the province supported agricultural production on 46,400 hectares, meeting 100 percent of the annual plan. Domestic and industrial water supply reached nearly 25.3 million cubic meters, equivalent to 58 percent of the target. The province is currently implementing 47 projects with a total investment of VND 12.9 trillion.

Vo Van Dinh, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Environment, delivers a report at the working session. Photo: B. Nguyen

Irrigation management and investment in the province continue to face several difficulties and obstacles. These include six irrigation facilities overlapping with areas designated for bauxite mining, creating challenges for construction planning and investment proposals; drainage systems for major urban areas have not been adequately prioritized in master planning; and the management and operation of some irrigation facilities remain problematic, particularly in addressing violations related to the protection of these structures.

Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chair of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment to review irrigation facilities related to bauxite and remove them from the planning. Regarding irrigation projects in border communes, the department is working with local authorities to resolve land clearance issues for irrigation construction comprehensively.

Provincial leaders also called for a comprehensive review of the list of new investment projects, as well as those involving upgrades and repairs, with a clear distinction between projects requiring urgent priority and those that can be deferred to later phases. At the same time, it is necessary to assess and review local needs for investment in rural clean water projects in order to develop investment attraction strategies and allocate appropriate budget resources.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by Thu Hien, Minho