The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is focusing oncompleting the draft of a national action plan on enhancing management,protection and water use in order to increase efficiency in managing andusing water resources in the coming time.

In addition, theministry also works hard to build an inter-water reservoir operationprocess for lakes in basins across the country, while continuing toresearch the impact of hydroelectricity projects on the main flow of theMekong River .

The information was revealed at a pressconference which was held in Hanoi on February 24 to announce theministry’s upcoming activities and a national programme for the 2014World Water Day.

According to Hoang Van Bay, Director of theWater Resources Management Department, a national meeting and an arrayof activities in response to the 2014 World Water Day will be held onMarch 21 in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, one of thelocalities in the watershed between the Red River and Thai Binh River,the largest river basin in northern Vietnam.

Organised by theMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Industryand Trade, and Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) in conjunction with theprovincial People’s Committee, the programme includes a nationalmeeting, a scientific conference titled "Water and Energy", a photoexhibition themed "Water - People - Life", an art performance called"River and Singing" and some other activities.

Themed “Water andEnergy”, the 2014 World Water Day aims to raise awareness of the closerelationship between these two basic elements, and calls on people tofind management measures to be able to maintain economic growth and tomeet human needs through sustainable exploitation of water resources andthe efficient and economical use of energy towards a green economy./.