Posted on July 29, 2026
Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, along with representatives from the Provincial Border Guard Command, chaired the meeting.
A delegation led by leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Border Guard Command of Lam Dong province and relevant units and localities, directly inspected the progress of dredging and clearing the La Gi estuary on the afternoon of July 26th. They also received a report on the work to mitigate the consequences of the recent fishing boat sinking.
The emergency dredging project at La Gi estuary, invested by the Lam Dong Provincial Fisheries Port Management Board, has a designed volume of approximately 38,000 m3. Although the deadline for completion, as directed by the Provincial People’s Committee, is before April 30, 2026, progress remains sluggish, with only about 26,000 m3 dredged so far.
Colonel Bui Xuan Truong, Deputy Commander of Operations of the Provincial Border Guard Command, spoke at the working session.
Through on-site inspections, authorities discovered numerous shortcomings, such as frequent disruptions to construction equipment; leaks and damage to the sand pumping pipeline system that were not promptly repaired; and continued siltation at the estuary, preventing the channel from being cleared and posing a high risk to the safety of vessels, especially during the rainy and stormy season. This situation has significantly impacted the lives of fishermen and generated negative public opinion in the locality.
After conducting a field inspection and listening to the opinions of the delegates attending the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Chien, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province, requested the Provincial Fisheries Port Management Board to conduct a serious review, clarify the collective and individual responsibilities related to the delay, and submit a detailed report on the causes and existing problems.
Specifically, the Department set a deadline of August 10, 2026, at the latest. If the construction contractor fails to meet the committed capacity and progress, the project must be terminated and an alternative solution sought.
Furthermore, to ensure absolute safety for people and vehicles in the coming period, the Department of Agriculture and Environment directs the investor to urgently coordinate with the construction unit to revise the dredging plan to closely reflect the actual weather conditions; and to concentrate maximum manpower and equipment to accelerate progress. In addition, the consulting unit must conduct thorough measurements and acceptance testing in accordance with legal regulations. Moreover, they must urgently report on the proposed adjustments to the list, capital plan, and route of the La Gi port storm shelter area.
Regarding maritime rescue and safety, the Fisheries and Islands Sub-Department directed the fisheries inspection force to be on duty and guide fishermen to equip themselves with sufficient lifebuoys when entering and leaving the sea. The Border Guard force continued to disseminate information and assist in regulating waterway traffic. The People’s Committee of Phuoc Hoi ward continued to support the arrangement of a transfer area to create the best possible conditions for the construction unit.
Regarding the incident on July 25th where a fishing boat sank in the La Gi estuary area, causing 150 million VND in damage, the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment highly appreciated the timely rescue efforts of the local authorities. They also requested that relevant localities and units quickly compile damage statistics to advise the competent authorities on timely support policies to help fishermen stabilize their lives.
