Ensuring water security (Illustrative photo)

The Plan's central objective is to ensure water security and meet water supply demands for domestic use, agricultural production, aquaculture and manufacturing and service industries. At the same time, the province places emphasis on rational exploitation to prevent the depletion of groundwater resources and the deterioration of water quality, while responding to the impacts of climate change.

To ensure effective implementation of the plan, the Provincial People's Committee requires provincial departments, agencies and localities to proactively coordinate in advising on the regulation and distribution of water resources in a manner consistent with actual water conditions, meeting exploitation demands and serving domestic water supply and production across the province. Specific response measures must also be proposed for areas at risk of water shortage, in alignment with the province's actual water resource conditions and the Water Resource Scenarios for the Red River - Thai Binh Basin for the 2025 - 2026 dry season and the Water Resource Scenarios for the Bang Giang - Ky Cung River Area published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Ensuring the efficient operation of irrigation works (Illustrative photo)

Regarding implementation, the Department of Agriculture and Environment plays the lead role, bearing responsibility for monitoring and inspecting the discharge of minimum flow requirements at water exploitation works and advising on plan adjustments when water resource scenarios change. The Department shall also focus on directing the efficient operation of irrigation works, reviewing and calculating specific water demand for rice cultivation during the period from March to April 2026 and strictly penalizing violations related to water resource exploitation.

The Department of Industry and Trade is tasked with appraising operational procedures and urging investors to review, formulate and submit for approval any adjustments to the operational procedures of hydroelectric reservoirs, ensuring economical, efficient and multi-purpose water use while preventing losses and waste. In addition, the Department of Construction shall implement emergency measures to ensure domestic water supply in the event of drought-induced water shortage or serious water source pollution incidents. The Provincial Hydrometeorological Station shall provide the Department of Agriculture and Environment with hydrometeorological monitoring results upon request and shall issue 10-day, monthly and seasonal hydrometeorological forecasts for Thai Nguyen province in accordance with applicable regulations.

Commune- and ward-level People's Committees are responsible for organizing the implementation of the water resource exploitation and use plan within their respective areas and for proactively developing specific local plans suited to water source conditions during the peak dry season. Localities must proactively review the current state of infrastructure, promptly identify risks of water shortage and propose supplementary water source solutions. In addition to managing and protecting the boundary markers of water source protection corridors, commune- and ward-level People's Committees shall intensify public communication and mobilization efforts to encourage residents to adopt water-saving practices in daily life and production.

Regularly inspecting the operation of the water pumping system (Illustrative photo)

Organizations and individuals engaged in water exploitation must regularly inspect the operational status of water treatment plants and water supply stations and networks to prevent loss and waste of water resources. Thai Nguyen Irrigation Exploitation One-Member Limited Liability Company and Irrigation Exploitation Bac Kan Company Limited are primarily responsible for maintaining and upkeeping the irrigation works under their management, ensuring a sufficient water flow for economical and efficient agricultural production while avoiding water loss. Hydroelectric project investors must operate in accordance with prescribed procedures and comply with the terms of their water resource exploitation licenses.