DECISION

APPROVING THE SCHEME ON UPGRADING AND CONSTRUCTION OF FRESH-WATER RESERVOIRS AND CONSTRUCTION OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ON POPULOUS ISLANDS

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;
At the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (in Report No. 184/TTr-BNN-TL of January 23, 2009),

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Scheme on upgrading and construction of fresh- water reservoirs and construction of irrigation systems on populous islands with the following principal contents:

1. Viewpoints:

Upgrading and construction of fresh-water reservoirs and construction of irrigation systems on populous islands constitutes an urgent and long-term task of local administrations. On the basis of state supports, all resources and contributions of people and various economic sectors will be mobilized for investment in the construction of works in order to supply adequate fresh water for essential needs, ensuring a stable and incrementally improved life of island inhabitants and greatly contributing to encouraging people to move to islands for settlement and socio-economic development in furtherance of the State's sea strategy till 2020.

Survey, planning and scientific research must be carried out one step ahead, with priority given to big and populous islands or those holding important positions in socio-economic development and sea sovereignty security protection.

The construction of irrigation systems and fresh-water reservoirs on the islands must be in line with development plannings of localities and branches and closely associated to environmental protection and sustainable development.

2. Objectives:

By 2015. to adequately supply fresh water for essential daily-life and production needs of people in stabilizing their life and promoting socio­economic development on big and populous islands or important ones.

3. Scope:

To upgrade and build fresh-water reservoirs and build irrigation systems on a number of big and populous islands or those holding important positions, including Co To. Vinh Thuc. Van Don and Cai Chien (Quang Ninh); Cat Hai. Cat Ba and Bach Long Vi (Hai Phong); Hon Me (Thanh Hoa); Con Co (Quang Tri); Cu Lao Cham (Quang Nam): Ly Son (Quang Ngai); Nhon Chau (Binh Dinh); Phu Quy (Binh Thuan); Con Dao (Ba Ria-Vung Tau); Kien Hai and Phu Quoc (Kien Giang); Hon Khoai and Hon Chuoi (Ca Mau). (See the attached appendix).

4. Major tasks:

a/ The 2009-2012 period:

- To survey the socio-economic situation and natural conditions of islands: to review, supplement and finalize the irrigation planning of each island, thereby formulating investment projects on construction of water supply facilities:

- To materialize the investment projects on construction of water supply facilities and water storage facilities according to the following priority order: construction, renovation and upgrading of water reservoirs, water tanks; embankment of some important and essential positions of islands;

- To realize a number of applied scientific schemes in direct service of water supply and construction of water reservoirs and water tanks.

b / The 2013-2015 period:

- To further materialize investment projects on construction of water supply or storage facilities, completion of irrigation systems and water reservoirs on islands;

- To review and draw experience from the realization of this Scheme, proposing tasks in the subsequent periods for other difficult areas and regions.

5. Some major solutions:

a/ Irrigation planning: On the basis of basic surveys of the socio-economic situation on the islands and plannings of localities and concerned branches, to review, supplement and finalize the master plan on irrigation, conformable to development orientations of islands, which will serve as bases for the formulation of investment projects on construction, ensuring sustainable development;

b/ Mechanisms and policies: To study and propose the State to promulgate mechanisms and policies, aiming to attract and encourage various economic sectors to participate in construction investment, exploitation and use of irrigation works for daily life and services, tapping the tourisl potential in areas where conditions permit; to quickly socialize the water supply on the islands, ensuring the efficiency and saving of water resources.

c/ Scientific and technological solutions: To study the application, including the exchange or purchase of. foreign advanced technologies on: water supply (water storage, water collection, water filtering); construction of water reservoirs, water tanks with new, durable and cheap materials suitable to island conditions; technologies on treatment of wastewater up to standards before discharge into the environment or treatment of wastewater for re-use.

6. Investment capital:

a/ Investment capital for the construction of irrigation systems and water supply facilities for daily-life and production activities will come from the state budget mobilization from various economic sectors, contributions of people and integrated programs and projects in the areas, including:

- Central budget: To be invested in the construction of key or central works which localities meet with difficulties in, or those holding important positions, including onstruction or upgrading of irrigation systems, water reservoirs, concentrated water tanks, and embankments of key areas of the islands;

- Local budget: To be invested in the construction or upgrading of irrigation and drainage systems and small water tanks;

- Capital mobilized from enterprises: To be invested in the construction of water supply facilities for daily-life and service activities, irrigation and water supply systems in the BOO or BOT form under approved projects.

- Capital contributed by people: To used for the construction of water tanks for families: water supply systems in service of business activities (from main water supply systems on the islands).

b/ Projected capital demand and capital structure:

- Total investment capital: VND 3.024.08 billion.

Including:

+ State budget capital: VND 1.664.9 billion.

+ Local budget capital: VND 320.75 billion.

+ Capital mobilized from enterprises: VND 1.038.43 billion.

- Phased investment:

+ The 2009-2012 period: VND 1.246.16 billion.

+ The 2013-2015 period: VND 1.777.92 billion.

7. Organization of implementation

a/ The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has the responsibility:

- To assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with concerned ministries, branches and localities in. implementing the Scheme; studying and proposing mechanisms and policies to encourage the development of irrigation and fresh­water supply on the islands and submitting them to competent authorities for decision;

- To guide and assist localities in reviewing, supplementing or formulating irrigation plannings on the islands;

- To research into and develop scientific and technological schemes in service of fresh-water supply on the islands: construction of facilities, reservoirs and water tanks with new materials; environmental protection;

- To make preliminary and final reviews of the Scheme upon completion of each phase with a view to drawing experience, ensuring investment efficiency and the highest feasibility of the Scheme.

b/ Concerned local People's Committees:

- To direct local functional agencies in reviewing, supplementing and formulating irrigation plannings on the islands; formulating specific construction investment projects for submission to competent authorities for approval and organizing investment activities according to regulations.

- To step up the pulbic information about the importance of fresh-water sources, raising islanders' sense of thrifty use of fresh water and environment protection.

- To allocate local budget capital for performing work items tasked to them.

- To guide and assist people in building fresh­water supply facilities in service of family daily-life activities.

- To create favorable conditions for. and at the same time step up socialization efforts so as to attract organizations and individuals to invest in. the construction, management and exploitation of facilities, ensuring investment efficiency.

c/ Ministries and branches shall, according to their functions and tasks, coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities in performing the tasks defined in this Scheme.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and presidents of provincial-level People's Committees shall implement this Decision.

APPENDIX

LIST OF ISLANDS ON WHICH FRESH-WATER SUPPLY AND IRRIGATION WORKS WILL BE BUILT
(Attached to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 439/QD-TTg of April 3. 2009)