Vietnam River Network (VRN) has called for the cancellation of a residential development on 8.4 hectares of reclaimed land beside the Dong Nai River in southern Dong Nai Province.
The Hanoi based network, which is a Vietnamese non-governmental organisation of hydrological and ecological scientists, said reclaiming such a big area would critically interfere with the hydrology, ecology, economy and society of the area.
"The project will cause a big change to the river's water flow. This would lead to regional land erosion, block floodwater, and increase of pollution," it said.
"Millions of residents in Dong Nai and HCM City will face a potential shortage of clean water as their water supply is taken from the section of the river where the project is based."
Millions of residents in Dong Nai and HCM City will face a potential shortage of clean water as their water supply is taken from the section of the river where the project is based.
"The ecology of the Dong Nai river basin will change abruptly."
After local authorities agreed to the project last July, the project owner, Toan Thinh Phat joint stock company, blocked the area off with rocks.
However, the network demanded approval for the project be reconsidered. The network also demanded a meeting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and concerned committed on river basins.
"We insist that the project will create conflict on the use of water thus local authorities and the project holder must have detailed consultation with nearby residents as well as province and city councils from the localities, including Binh Duong and HCM City, that are sharing the water resource," it said.
Reports by local newspapers said that the project holder admitted they it did not consult local residents about the project. Its environmental-impact assessment was done by a research institute connected to the National University in HCM City.
Dong Nai river is the main stream of the Dong Nai river system, which is the country's biggest river system. The whole basin is located inside Vietnamese territory.