DIRECTIVE No.3/1998/CT-TTg of January 16, 1998 on a number of urgent measures to prevent and combat drought and protect the 1998 spring crops:

- To draw experience from the implementation of the Ordinance on the exploitation and protection of irrigation works, Decree No.98-CP of December 27, 1995 of the Government and Directive No.487-TTg of July 30, 1996 of the Prime Minister on enhancing the State management over the water resources;

- To enhance the State management over the exploitation and use of water resources in a rational and economical manner;

- The Prime Minister instructs the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Vietnam Electricity Corporation, the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, the People's Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government to promptly carry out a number of tasks to cope with the adverse weather conditions, including the possible drought or water shortage, that affect the agricultural and industrial production, lower the water level in reservoirs of hydro-electric power plants and increase the saline water infiltration in some coastal areas.-