Decision No. 257/QD-TTg dated February 18, 2016 of the Prime Minister on approving flood prevention and dike Planning of the Red and Thai Binh rivers system

DECISION

APPROVING FLOOD PREVENTION AND DIKE PLANNING OF THE RED AND THAI BINH RIVERS SYSTEM

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THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to the Law on Dikes dated November 29, 2006;

Pursuant to the Government s Decree No. 04/2011/ND-CP dated January 14, 2011, on demolishing flood-diversion and flood-slowing zones of the Red River system;

At the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

DECIDES:

Article 1.To approve flood prevention and dike planning of the Red and Thai Binh rivers system with the following principal contents:

I. VIEWPOINTS

1. To comply with the Law on Dikes and relevant laws.

2. To ensure safety in flood prevention and control while taking into account the impacts of climate change; to ensure sustainable economic, social and environmental development.

3. To step by step raise the assurance level in flood prevention and control in Hanoi capital and the Red and Thai Binh river delta, being suitable to the protected areas.

4. To satisfy immediate requirements, create conditions for future development and deal with unforeseen abnormalities.

5. To synchronously carry out non-structural and structural measures according to the perspective of natural disaster risk management, enhance non-structural measures, and enhance the management efficiency.

6. To ensure inheritance.

II. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

a) To take initiative in flood and storm prevention and control in the Red and Thai Binh river basins, contributing to stabilizing and developing socio-economy as well as national security and defense.

b) To provide the basis for formulation and adjustment of detailed flood prevention planning in rivers having dike, dike planning, land use planning, construction planning and other relevant planning in provinces and centrally-run cities that are located in the system of the Red and Thai Binh rivers.

c) To provide the basis for relevant ministries, branches and localities to manage and govern flood and storm prevention and control and to formulate plans for investment in flood and storm prevention and dike works in the medium and long term till 2030, with a vision to 2050.

2. Specific objectives

a) To determine the assurance level in flood prevention and control for the delta areas of the Red-Thai Binh river system.

b) To determine the design floods of the rivers having dikes, including design flood discharges and water levels.

c) To propose solutions for ensuring flood prevention in accordance with the design standards for the Red-Thai Binh river system.

d) To propose solutions for effective management, exploitation and use of the riverbank in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Dikes and other relevant laws in order to meet demands of the country s socio-economic development and create conditions for stabilizing life of the riverbank-based dwellers, on the principle of ensuring dike safety, not greatly affecting flood drainage, actively reserving space for future development and coping with unforeseen abnormalities.

dd) To propose plans for planning the dike system from grade III to special grade in the whole delta and midland of the Red and Thai Binh rivers.

e) To propose solutions for planning, anticipate priority items, and estimate resources for implementation.

III. SCOPE OF PLANNING

The midland and delta region of the Red-Thai Binh river system, including the territory of 15 provinces and centrally-run cities: Hoa Binh, Ha Noi, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen.

IV. STANDARD OF FLOOD PREVENTION AND CONTROL

1. Standard of flood prevention and control

a) Areas which are affected by the regulation of large reservoirs in upstream area, including areas along Da (after Hoa Binh lake), Red, Duong, Luoc, Tra Ly, Dao, Ninh Co, Thai Binh, Van Uc, Hoa, Kinh Thay, Kinh Mon, Da Bach, Cam, Lach Tray and Rang rivers:

- The period till 2030:

+ To ensure safety with design floods having a 500-year cycle (frequency of 0.2%) at the central urban areas of Hanoi city on the right bank of the Red river (within the ring road IV).

+ To ensure safety with design floods having a 300-year cycle (frequency of 0.33%) at the remaining areas of the Red River delta.

- The vision to 2050:

To maintain the safety level of estuary areas at 300 years, and raise the safety level to 700 years for the central urban areas of Hanoi city on the right bank of the Red River (within the ring road IV) and to  500 years for the remaining areas.

b) Areas which are less affected by the regulation of large reservoirs, including areas along Thao, Lo, Pho Day, Cau, Thuong, Luc Nam and Tich rivers:

- The period till 2030:

To ensure safety with design floods having a cycle from 50 to 100 years (frequency from 2.0% to 1.0%), depending on the population size and social economy of protected areas as well as conditions of topography, flood and actual situation of flood prevention works of each area.

- The period after 2030:

To determine standards of flood prevention and control suitable to the country s socio-economic conditions as well as the importance of each protected area.

(Standards of flood prevention and control in areas in accordance with Appendix I)

2. Design water level and flood discharge of the dike system

a) Areas which are affected by the regulation of large reservoirs in upstream area:

- The right dike section of the Red river protecting the central urban area of Hanoi City (within the ring road IV) shall ensure safety with the design flood water level in the Red river which remains at 13.4 m at the Hanoi hydrographic station, corresponding to the design flood discharge which remains 20,000 m³/s at the Hanoi hydrological station.

- Other dikes shall ensure safety with the design flood level which remains at 13.1 m at the Hanoi hydrographic station for the Red river, remains at 7.2 m at the Pha Lai hydrographic station for the Thai Binh river; corresponding to the design flood discharge which remains 17,800 m³/s at the Hanoi hydrographic station, and 3,300 m³/s at the Pha Lai hydrological station.

b) Areas which are less affected by the regulation of large reservoirs: the dike system shall ensure safety with the design flood level on rivers.

c) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall detail the water level and design flood discharge for each dike.

V. SOLUTIONS FOR FLOOD PREVENTION AND CONTROL

1. Solutions of works

a) Solutions of regulating floods in upstream reservoirs:

Regulating reservoirs for flood-reducing: regulating and reducing floods for downstream areas by using flood prevention volume of reservoirs which remains 07 billion m³in Son La and Hoa Binh lakes on the Da river, remains 1 billion m³in Tuyen Quang lake, and remains 450 million m³in Thac Ba lake. Operating inter-lake regulation, ensuring the flood discharge in the Red river at the Son Tay hydrological station less than or equal to 28,000 m³/s; at the Hanoi hydrological station less than or equal to 20,000 m³/s, and ensuring the water level of the Red river at the Hanoi hydrographic station not exceeding 13.40 m. If there are serious incidents with dike systems or forecasts about the flood with 500-year cycle which is smaller than the design flood of Son La lake (10,000-year cycle), a part of the flood-controlling capacity for the works may be used to reduce floods for the downstream areas but must ensure safety for the works.

b) Planting and protecting watershed forests to increase coverage, prevent erosion, run out of flows, prevent and control flash floods; effectively implementing the afforestation programs.

c) Consolidating dikes: Dikes are the basic and long-term flood control solution for the Red River and Thai Binh river deltas. Paying attention to investing, consolidating, upgrading and solidifying the dike system, ensuring safety in flood control and combining socio-economic development. Technical solutions applied to consolidate, upgrade and solidify dikes include:

- Completing the dike cross section: Ensuring adequate height for flood control, cross-sectional dimensions (restoration; structure compression; dike surface expanding; and dike embankment in upstream and downstream areas); detecting and handling hidden incidents within the dike body; planting breakwater trees and anti-erosion grasses.

- Improving the quality of dike body and foundation to meet flood prevention requirements in case of large floods lasting for many days. Priority is given to the dike sections that pass through densely populated areas, especially the Red river dike, which passes through the center of Hanoi.

- Applying science and technology, and new materials to handle the foundation of the dike sections with weak geology to ensure its safety. Filling in swamps, lakes and ponds around the dike to stabilize it; embanking coverage and anti-pressure layers of weak dike foundation zones that are often effervescent and extruded.

- Improving and hardening dike surface and dike foot corridor to increase stability, combining new rural programs to build rural roads, creating favorable conditions for managing and protecting dikes as well as preventing encroachment into dike body.

- Constructing and upgrading of dike-crossing sluices; dike-crossing sluices which are damaged but not yet repaired or newly built must be closed to ensure safety in flood prevention.

- Renovating and upgrading revetment system; handling landslide areas that are directly threatening the safety of dikes and works for flood and storm prevention, populated areas, and urban areas. The erosion handling must be a harmonious combination between construction and non-structural solutions.

- Constructing works for dike management and protection.

- Completing the Day river’s dike system and river bed in accordance with the flood prevention and dike planning.

d) Improving river beds: dredging river beds and estuaries at local sedimentation areas to increase flood drainage.

dd) Improving the Duong river estuary: Building works for improving river beds and regulating at the section of the Duong river estuary to control and stabilize the flood diversion rate from the Red river to the Duong river at 30-32%.

e) Transferring floods from the Red River to the Day River: In case of having forecasts about floods that are larger than floods with 500-year cycle in the Red river system (exceeding design floods) or having serious incidents related to the dike system in the inner-city area of Hanoi, transferring floods from the Red river to the Day river with maximum discharge of 2,500 m³/s.

2. Non-structural solutions

a) Improving flood control efficiency of the reservoir system: Continuing to review and complete the inter-reservoir operation process, ensuring harmonization of benefits in flood prevention, energy security (electricity production) and water supply in the dry season.

b) Strengthening hydro-meteorological observation, improving the capacity for forecasting and warning of floods as well as applying science and technology in forecasting. Determining floods of the Red River in real time to control floods and store water flexibly on the basis of the approved operational process framework, improving flood prevention and control efficiency; regularly monitoring weather developments for proactive regulation in response to scenarios where the flood season ends sooner or the flood occurs later than usual.

c) Drawing up emergency response plans to cope with the situations that floods in the Red river exceed design floods or other reservoir incidents in upstream areas.

d) Applying new scientific and technological advances in management, construction, repair, upgrading and solidification of dikes and flood prevention works.

dd) Improving the efficiency of management, facilities and equipment for dike management agencies and people s dike management force; strengthening the dike management of mass organizations.

e) Strictly managing the exploitation of sand and gravel in river beds, and the placing of materials on river terraces, dredging and improving the waterway transport to ensure the safety of the dyke system without obstructing flood drainage.

g) Organization of dike protection:

- Dike protection must be conducted on a regular basis, which is a particularly important task, especially during flood and storm seasons; dike protection must be organized in a timely manner when dikes have incidents or risk of incidents.

- Mobilization of forces, materials and means for dike salvage must be implemented in a timely manner according to the four-on-the-spot mottos, and in accordance with competence. The Vietnam People s Army is a key force in dike rescue while coordinating with ministries, branches and localities to ensure the safety of dikes;

- Materials, facilities and equipment for dike protection must be fully prepared according to dike protection plans, combining tradition and modernity and attaching importance to applying new materials, advanced science and technology and equipment.

h) Propagating to raise people s awareness about dike management, protection and flood control. Improving the efficiency and responsibility of local authorities at all levels in managing, protecting, preventing and handling violations of the Law on Dikes.

3. Management and use of river terraces:

a) Flood drainage space: To ensure flood drainage, the flood drainage space shall include the river bed area and river terrace located between 2 dikes; areas affected by flood regulation of large reservoirs must ensure flood drainage space corresponding to the floods having a frequency of 0.2%; areas not affected by flood regulation of large reservoirs must ensure flood drainage space corresponding to the floods having the design frequency on such river routes.

b) Use of river terraces:

- Existing populated areas that are located outside river terraces:

+ Relocating households violating the Law on Dikes, within the dike protection scope as well as dangerously eroded areas.

+ Gradually relocating a number of residential areas in the narrow river beds, which are at risk of unsafety in case of severe floods (specified in Appendix II).

+ The remaining areas may exist and be protected; may renovate and build new works and houses in accordance with construction planning and land use planning; may use a part of the river terraces to arrange resettlement ground for households scattered around the area, with an area not exceeding 5% of the existing residential area (specified in Appendix III), People s Committees at all levels in localities and households must take initiative in ensuring safety in case of severe floods.

- The river terraces of Tam Xa - Xuan Canh and Long Bien - Cu Khoi in the urban center of Hanoi city, which are already included in the general planning for construction of Hanoi capital approved by competent authorities, may plan for urban construction towards the existing dike route, the new construction area does not exceed 15% of the riverbank area (specified in Appendix IV).

- The remaining river terraces:

+ Reviewing and planning to gradually relocate households that are not located in concentrated residential areas.

+ The use of river terraces must ensure the following conditions: not causing flood obstruction and loss of flood storage space; not affecting the flow or being dangerous or unsafe; not causing loss of life and property during severe floods; not polluting environment and water quality; complying with the Law on Dikes. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall line out principles and specific guidelines on the use of river terraces.

+ Socio-economic development activities and construction of new works and houses under Clause 3, Article 26 of the Law on Dikes shall be considered only for a number of areas where the width of the river terrace (distance from the dike bottom to the edge of the river) is larger than 500 m, the flow velocity on the terrace corresponding to the design flood is less than 0.2 m/s (the river terraces as prescribed in Appendix V); the construction area must not exceed 5% of the riverbank area. The remaining areas must not build new works or houses, excluding works permitted to be built in accordance with Clauses 1 and 2, Article 26 of the Law on Dikes.

c) Not increasing the height of existing dyke routes, not building new dykes.

d) When using river terraces where construction works are not available to carry out investment projects on construction of works, houses and projects on other services, specific investment projects must be formulated and sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in order to evaluate the contents related to flood drainage, dike safety before being submitted to the Prime Minister in accordance with Article 26 of the Law on Dike.

4. Carrying out emergency response plans in case floods exceed the design frequency, dam burst or other incidents of large upstream reservoirs.

5. Location of dike routes

Maintaining the location of existing dikes, only adjusting a few sections locally, including straightening the Huu Thuong dike from Km 15 to Km 29 with a length of 1.248km; the right dike of the Lo river from Km 68 to Km 70 (coinciding with the Viet Tri river side bund); some sections of dikes located in downstream areas of the Red-Thai Binh river system; some sections of  dikes of the Day river according to flood prevention and dike planning of the Day river system (specified in Appendix VI).

VI. ORDER OF EXECUTION

a) From 2016 to 2030: focusing on planting landmarks on dike protection corridors; completing the operation process of large reservoirs in upstream areas; completing dike cross-sections and improving dike quality and structures under the dike; upgrading infrastructure and equipment for dike management; planting headwater protection forests; improving the Duong river’s estuary; improving the Red River section through the urban center of Hanoi city.

In such period to 2020, priority is given to:

- Setting landmarks on dike protection corridors;

- Upgrading dikes in downstream areas of the Thai Binh river system, including: Thai Binh, Kinh Thay, Van Uc, Gua, Mia, Moi, Lach Tray, Da Bach, Rang, Kinh Mon and Cam rivers.

- Upgrading dikes that protect Hanoi capital and densely populated cities.

- Building centers for operating natural disaster prevention and control and managing the Red-Thai Binh river system;

- Researching the construction of works to improving the Duong river’s estuary;

- Improving the Red River section through the central urban area of Hanoi city.

b) After 2030: Continuing to complete the cross-section, enhance the quality of dike body and foundation, renovate the dike system in combination with traffic; improve the river beds to enhance flood drainage.

VII. FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLANNING

1. Total budget for implementation of the planning is estimated at VND 112,668 billion, including VND 55,511 billion for the period to 2030 and VND 57,157 billion for the period after 2030 (specified in Appendix VII)

2. Capital sources: Central and local budgets, ODA funds, socialized capital sources, revenues from auction of land use right of river terraces or investment in the form of public-private partnership (use lands in river terraces).

Article 2.Organization of implementation

1. People s Committees of provinces and municipalities under the planning scope shall:

a) Review and adjust detailed flood prevention and control plannings for rivers having dikes as well as dike plannings in their localities to ensure compliance with this planning; of which specifically identifying the areas of works and houses that must be relocated, existing residential areas and other areas that have demands for socio-economic development and construction of new works and houses. (Order and procedures for adjusting plannings shall comply with of the Law on Dikes).

b) Review and adjust land use plannings, plannings on construction of riverbank areas shall comply with the detailed flood prevention and control plannings for rivers having dikes as well as the dike plannings in their localities.

c) Develop annual and 5-year roadmaps and plans for implementation of the planning.

d) Proactively balance the allocation of local budgets, revenues from auction of land use right of river terraces and mobilize other lawful capital sources to implement the planning.

dd) Manage dike protection and rescue, prevent and handle violations of the Law on Dikes; build, upgrade and maintain dike systems, improve flood drainage, and resettle people within the scope of local management according to the planning, ensuring safety in flood prevention and control as prescribed; manage and use river terraces in accordance with the Law on Dikes, this planning and other relevant regulations.

e) Develop emergency response plans in their localities in case floods exceed the design frequency, dam burst or other incidents of large upstream reservoirs.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

a) Publicize, direct, guide and inspect the implementation of the flood prevention and dike planning in the Red-Thai Binh river system in accordance with its competence.

b) Perform the function of state management of dikes, natural disaster prevention, and organize the management of protection, investment in constructing and upgrading dikes of the Red-Thai Binh river system in accordance with the Law on Dikes and this planning; complete mechanisms and policies for the repair and maintenance of the dike system.

c) Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with localities in, reviewing and locally adjusting dike location and grade suitable to the local socio-economic development situation; reviewing and providing for the water level, design flood discharge for each dike route.

d) Coordinate with localities to develop medium and long-term annual roadmaps and plans for implementation of the planning; formulate specific plans to implement the program of forest planting and protection.

dd) Assume the prime responsibility, and coordinate with localities in,  developing medium and long-term plans to select projects prioritized for investment in dike repair, upgrading, and maintenance. Build projects to consolidate and upgrade dikes of complex technical specifications, large-scale and pilot projects for replication.

e) Evaluate the contents related to flood drainage and dike safety for investment projects on construction of works on river terraces in accordance with Clause 3, Article 26 of the Law on Dikes.

g) Assume the prime responsibility, and coordinate with relevant agencies and localities in, formulating emergency response plans in case floods exceed the design frequency, dam burst or other incidents of large reservoirs in upstream areas; guide localities to draw up emergency response plans in their localities.

h) Direct the formulation of flood prevention and control plannings for northern mountainous provinces, focusing on areas prone to high floods (Lang Son, Ha Giang, Son La, Yen Bai and Lao Cai).

i) Research and apply advanced science and technology in management, protection, construction investment, and upgrading of dikes and flood prevention works.

k) Coordinate with ministries, branches and localities in reviewing and finalizing regulations related to the management and exploitation of sand, gravel in river beds and river terraces; dredging and improving waterway transport flows to ensure safety of dike systems; researching solutions for management of river terraces, giving priority to eco-friendly solutions.

l) Direct and guide localities to improve the capacity of specialized forces in charge of dike management and people s dike management.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall, based on their assigned functions and tasks, allocate funds to implement the planning in accordance with the State Budget Law and other relevant laws; give priority to investing in dike repair and maintenance, and handling the landslides that affect dike safety; coordinate with the concerned agencies and localities in proposing mechanisms and policies to mobilize non-budget resources to create capital for implementation of the planning.

4. The Central Steering Committee for natural disaster prevention and control shall, based on its assigned functions and tasks, direct the operation of hydroelectric reservoirs to control and reduce floods for downstream areas, improving the efficiency of electricity generation, contributing to ensuring the safety of the Red-Thai Binh river system.

Article 3.This Decision takes effect on the date of signing and replaces the Prime Minister s Decision No. 92/2007/QD-TTg dated June 21, 2007. Other relevant plannings (plannings on land use, construction, etc.) must be reviewed and adjusted in accordance with this plannning.

Article 4.Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, president of the National Committee for Search and Rescue, and chairpersons of the provincial and municipal People s Committees under the planning scope shall implement this Decision./.

The Prime Minister

Nguyen Tan Dung