A “fresh water ATM’ for providing drinking water for locals in Ben Tre province amid drought and saline intrusion was launched at a ceremony held on May 13.
The charity program was sponsored by the social charity board under the provincial Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) chapter, Tan Khanh pagoda in Ben Tre province and Tu Hanh pagoda in Ho Chi Minh city.
The event saw the presence of Most Venerable Thích Nhựt Tấn, Member of the VBS’s Executive Council cum Chairman of the provincial VBS’s Chapter, representatives from Buddhist pagodas and local authorities.
According to Senior Venerable Thích Trí Thuận, Head of the provincial VBS’s Chapter social charity board, local Buddhists and sponsors contributed to set up 100 free fresh water supplying sites for supporting local residents to overcome the impact of the saltwater intrusion. These water supplying sites have been established in Buddhist worshipping places in the province.
Reportedly, the cost of installing "fresh water ATM" is over 120 million VND.
On occasion, the charity delegation presented 150 gift sets, consisting of rice, noodles, cash and necessities worth over 52 million VND in total to people with visual impairment in three districts of Thanh Phu, Binh Dai and Giong Trom.
On the same day, at the office of Mo Cay Bac district People’s Committee, the delegation also presented 250 gift sets to visually impaired people and disadvantaged households in the locality.
A local resident receives fresh water
PH (phatsuonline)
