Decision No. 1251/QD-TTg dated September 12, 2008 of the Prime Minister approving the water supply planning for three key Northern, Central and Southern economic regions till 2020

APPROVING THE WATER SUPPLY PLANNING FOR THREE KEY NORTHERN, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ECONOMIC REGIONS TILL 2020

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on

Organization of the Government;

At the proposal of the Construction Minister in Report No.68/TTr-BXD of July 17, 2008, on the approval of the water supply planning for three key northern, central and southern economic regions till 2020,

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To approve the water supply planning for three key northern, central and southern economic regions till 2020 with the following major contents:

1. The planning scope

The major urban centers and industrial parks of centrally run cities and provinces of the three key economic regions.

- The northern key economic region embraces 8 provinces and cities: Hanoi, Hai Phong. Quang Ninh. Hai Duong. Hung Yen. Ha Tay, Vinh Phuc and Bac Ninh.

- The central key economic region covers 4 provinces and one city: Da Nang, Thua Thien -Hue. Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh.

- The southern key economic region comprises 7 provinces and one city: Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Tay Ninh. Binh Duong. Binh Phuoc, Long An and Tien Giang.

2. The planning target

To orientate the scheme for rational development of urban water supply systems (water sources, water plants, main supply lines) of the three economic regions in conformity with major socio-economic development orientations until 2010 and a vision towards 2020 already approved by the Prime Minister.

3. The planning contents

a/ Water supply criteria and water demand forecasts

The clean water quality standards used for designing works to treat water to be supplied for daily-life activities follow Vietnam construction standard TCXDVN 33:2006. The principal water use criteria are as follows:

General water use demands of the three key economic regions:

b/ Water sources

- The northern key economic region

+ Rationally using exploitable ground water sources in the region.

+ Prioritizing the exploitation and use of surface water from reservoirs and rivers, focusing mainly on the exploitation of such major rivers as Da, Hong (Red), Duong, Thai Binh, Da Do, Gia. Cau and other rivers in the area.

- The central key economic region

The exploitable ground water sources in the region are limited. The main exploitable sources come from such rivers as Huong, Yen. Tuy Loan. Cau Do. Cu De, Vinh Dien and Tra Khuc and local water reservoirs.

- The southern key economic region

+ The ground water deposit is fairly great and can be exploited in Tay Ninh and Ho Chi Minn City. Nevertheless, there should be plans for rational exploitation and use thereof.

+ Prioritizing the exploitation and use of surface water sources from reservoirs and such rivers as Dong Nai, Sai Gon, Tien and other rivers as well as streams; the reservoirs of Phuoc Hoa, Dau Tieng. Da Den, Song Ray, etc.

c/ Water treatment technologies

Traditional technologies will be used mainly for the treatment of ground and surface water, ensuring water quality up to Vietnam construction standard TCXDVN 33-2006 and that under Decision No. 1329/2002/BYT/QD for daily-life water, of which the technology for ground water will be clearing, settling, filtering and sterilizing and for surface water will be sediment, settling, filtering and sterilizing. In addition, modern equipment will be used in service of operation and management.

d/ Northern key economic region water supply planning

- Inter-urban water supply systems in the region

+ The water supply system for the Mieu Mon -Xuan Mai - Hoa Lac - Son Tay - Ha Dong - Hanoi urban cluster with the use of Da river water. The project area covers Hanoi city and Ha Tay and Hoa

Binh provinces in the Red river delta. The principal project items:

 Water sources: Da river water.

 River water-gathering facilities and pump stations.

 Crude water pipelines.

 Renovation of Dam Bai reservoir.

 Da river surface water plant: 300,000 m³/ day in stage I and 600,000 m^:7day in stage II.

 The transmission system of D 1,500mm-Dl,800mm.

 Projects and sub-projects on development of recetacle networks.

+ Northern Red river water supply system

 Water sources: Red or Duong river water source, service areas covering the urban centers and industrial parks of Hanoi city and Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Vinh Phuc provinces.

 Capacity: 300,000 m³/day in stage I, 1,600,000 m³/day in stage II and 1,000,000 m³/ day in subsequent stages.

- Main water supply systems in the northern kev economic region

e/ The central key economic region water supply planning

- Inter-urban water supply systems in the region

The natural characters and positions of urban centers and economic zones in the region are unfavorable and impractical for the construction of inter-urban water supply systems. Therefore, this planning does not propose an inter-urban water supply system in the region.

- Main water supply systems in the central key economic region province, targeting to meet the local clean water demand.

+ To build and connect clean water pipelines among urban centers/areas in each province, such as Bien Hoa - Long Thanh - Nhon Trach pipeline or My Xuan - Ba Ria Vung Tau pipeline.

+ To build and connect clean water pipelines among major consumption areas of the adjacent province and city, including:

Ho Chi Minh City - Duc Hoa (Long An) pipeline..

f/ The southern key economic region water supply planning

- Inter-urban water supply system in the region

To step by step develop a common water supply system for the region in the following periods:

- The period up to 2010

+ To develop and partially complete the concentrated water supply system in each

Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Luc (Long An) pipeline.

Ho Chi Minh City-Can Giuoc (Long An) pipeline.

 Phu My (Ba Ria-Vung Tau) - Phuoc Thai (Dong Nai) pipeline (currently available).

 Ho Chi Minh City- Bien Hoa pipeline (currently available).

- The up-to 2020 period:

+ To study and consider the construction of clean water-conducting works connecting the following areas:

 Ho Chi Minh City - southern Binh Duong (Thuan An - Thu Dau Mot - My Phuoc).

 Bien Hoa - Di An - Thuan An - Thu Dau Mot.

My Tho - Tien Giang - Tan An (Long An).

+ To prepare the construction of inter-provincial large-capacity water plants of 1,000,000- 3,000,000 m³/day.

+ Water sources:

Tri An reservoir - Dong Nai river (the section from Tri An reservoir to Hoa An): To supply waters for urban centers and industrial parks in western Dong Nai, southern Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City.

 Dau Tieng reservoir - Sai Gon river: To supply water for southern Binh Duong, southern Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City and eastern Long An.

 Tien river: To supply water for southern Tien Giang and southern Long An.

- The post-2020 period:

To build and expand water plants of 1,000,000 - 3,000,000 m³/day, supplying water for large areas.

- Main water supply systems in the southern key economic region

(*)The capacities of water plants in Ho Chi Minh City are projected for the periods up to 2015 and 2025. corresponding to the periods up to 2010 and 2020 in the table.

g/ Projected investment amounts

Article 2.- Mechanisms and policies

In order to ensure the synchronous and efficient investment in the construction and management of water supply systems up to environmental sanitation standards and to encourage various economic sections to invest in the development of water supply systems, the following incentive mechanisms and policies should be applied:

- Exemption from land use levy.

- Funding support for ground clearance and construction of facilities outside the projects' fences.

- The most preferential (VAT, business income, etc.) tax rates under current regulations.

- Preferential financial sources are used with priority given to water supply investment projects, regardless of users.

- ODA capital sources are concentrated for investment only in water supply to difficulty-hit areas, deep-lying and remote regions as well as for the improvement of network systems in order to reduce water loss.

Article 3.- Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Construction shall:

- Manage the planning blueprints on water supply for three key economic regions, already approved by the Prime Minister.

- Guide localities to review and adjust construction plannings. specialized water supply plannings in their respective provinces in conformity with the regional water supply planning already approved by the Prime Minister.

- Assume the prime responsibility for the selection of investors in inter-provincial water supply projects and direct the implementation thereof.

2. The People's Committees of the provinces or cities in the key economic regions shall:

- Review and adjust construction plannings and specialized water supply plannings in their respective localities in conformity with key economic region water supply planning already approved by the Prime Minister.

- Direct the implementation of water supply projects in their localities under current regulations.

3. Concerned ministries, departments and branches shall, based on their functions and tasks, coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and People's Committees of the provinces or cities in the key economic regions in implementation of the planning as provided for by law.

Article 4.-This Decision takes effect 15 days

after its signing.

The Minister of Construction and concerned ministers, presidents of People's Committees of the provinces or cities in the key economic regions, and heads of concerned agencies shall implement this Decision.

DECISION