Straits Times 6 Jan 08;
HANOI - WATER levels in Vietnam's northern Red River have fallen to a 100-year low, stranding large ships and threatening agricultural production, state media reported yesterday, quoting Hanoi officials.
The authorities have ordered the dredging of the waterway, which originates in China and runs through the capital, after the river level dropped due to low rainfall and a halt to discharges from upriver hydro-electric dams.
About 20 ships of over 500 tonnes were stranded on the river near Hanoi last week, prompting Vietnam's Inland Waterway Administration to order the dredging of the river this month, the state-run Vietnam News daily reported.
The water level of the river, called Song Hong in Vietnamese, had dropped to 1.1 metres in Hanoi, down from almost 1.5 metres at this time last year, Hanoi irrigation department official Tran Ai Quoc was quoted as saying.
'It is likely agriculture production will also be threatened by the lack of water,' he reportedly said.
'Widespread drought is forecast for this year.'
Most of the northern area's reservoirs are only 30-55 per cent full, resulting in a serious shortage of water for farming.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has required northern and northern central provinces to take anti-drought measures, including guiding farmers to shift to drought-resistant plants.
Rainfall in the northern and northern central regions is forecast to be lower than average for the first few months of this year.
AFP, Bernama
