Quang Nam (VNA) – International anddomestic experts, authorities of the central province of Quang Nam andrepresentatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development gatheredon March 6 to seek ways to address increasingly severe erosion in Cua Dai beachof Hoi An city.
Cua Dai beach has suffered from land erosionsince 2004, from Thu Bon river mouth to the north of Cua Dai beach, taking awaynumerous tourism facilities up to 200 metres inland.
At the event, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dan Kim from theParis-Est University, based on his group’s study on the erosion situation inCua Dai beach between 2009 and 2016, suggested Quang Nam province take sandfrom clearing off the currents in Cua Dai beach, with the amount of sandreaching 100,000 cu.m, to make a 300 – 400 metre-wide ground along the beachand up to 150 metres in the sea to slow down waves.
Kenichim Tachi from the Japan InternationalCooperation Agency (JICA) said experts should calculate the amount of mud andsand in the Vu Gia – Thu Bon river barin to develop effective measures toprotect Cua Dai beach.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Hoang Van Thang urged the experts to accelerate their research andmake a detailed roadmap for the making of sand-banks to protect Cua Dai beachfrom sea intrusion while ensuring tourism development and waterway travel.
Addressing the event, Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Dinh Van Thu said the locality is working with the agricultureministry and experts to have detailed plans to prevent erosion in Cua Dai beachin April and implement them in June.
Cua Dai beach, which is 5km from Hoi An's old quarter, is a favourite locationfor tourists visiting the UNESCO-recognised ancient city.
It is 7.6km long and was 3km away from the shore40 years ago. However, in recent years, erosion has eaten into the land at analarming level.
Erosion has come closer to the main section ofthe 1.5km road connecting the beach with Hoi An, threatening dozens of resorts.Rising sea levels have already washed a 20-hectare area of the Cua Dai beachaway.-VNA