Hanoi tightens control over irrigation and dike breaches

The Hanoi People's Committee has just issued Decision No. 34/2026/QD-UBND dated March 27, 2026, on the Regulation for coordination in preventing, inspecting, stopping, and handling administrative violations regarding irrigation, dikes and natural disaster prevention in the city.

The decision, signed by Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Luu, clearly defines the coordination responsibilities of relevant levels, sectors, organizations and individuals. It applies to commune-level People's Committees, departments, agencies, sectors, affiliated units, persons competent to sanction administrative violations and organizations and individuals operating in the fields of irrigation, dikes and natural disaster prevention.

Regarding prevention, grassroots authorities, departments, sectors, irrigation work operation units, and dike management forces are required to enhance coordination in legal dissemination and education. The Department of Agriculture and Environment plays the leading role, providing professional guidance and conducting research to propose both structural and non-structural solutions to reduce the occurrence of violations.

Commune-level People's Committees are responsible for boosting propaganda through the broadcasting system, strictly managing land use within the protection scope of irrigation works, dikes and riverbanks and promptly detecting, handling or reporting cases of misuse. Relevant projects and works may be implemented only when licensed by the competent authorities as prescribed.

Concurrently, irrigation work operation units and dike management forces must provide propaganda content, offer professional guidance and coordinate with localities to raise community awareness of violation prevention.

Regarding the inspection and detection of violations, the regulation requires all organizations and individuals to promptly notify local authorities or competent agencies upon discovering a violation. Specialized management units are responsible for inspecting within their scope of management, proactively coordinating with localities right from the onset of an incident and receiving and processing reported information.

Commune-level authorities continue to play a core role in inspecting, detecting and stopping violations according to their decentralized authority, while coordinating with police forces in verifying, monitoring and handling violations.

Regarding the handling process, the Chairman of the commune-level People's Committee is responsible for recording and imposing penalties in accordance with proper authority and deadlines. Upon receiving information from specialized units, preventive measures must be promptly applied in accordance with the law. In case of delayed handling, irrigation work management units and dike management forces have the right to petition the competent agencies and report to the Department of Agriculture and Environment for directive resolution.

The decision, effective from April 6, 2026, is expected to contribute to strengthening inter-sectoral coordination, enhancing the responsibilities of all levels and sectors in protecting irrigation works and dikes and proactively preventing and combating natural disasters in the capital area.