Hydroelectric reservoirs continue to increase discharge to 'save' rice

According to information from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the 2023 Spring rice crop is currently entering the flowering period. This is one of the peak water use periods. If there is no water in the coming days, the risk of rice yield and output reduction is very high.

However, the water level of Lam River is currently low, pumping stations along Lam River are not operating, leading to over 1,000 hectares of rice fields in Thanh Chuong and Do Luong districts lacking water. Meanwhile, according to the forecast of the North Central Hydrometeorological Station, there will be no rain in the area in the coming time, the water level of Lam River tends to decrease.

Trung Son pumping station (Do Luong) had to stop operating in mid-March 2023 due to low water level of Lam River. Photo: Phu Huong

To ensure water supply for pumping stations along Lam River to operate, especially pumping stations in Do Luong and Thanh Chuong districts, considering the proposal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 3060/UBND-NN, agreeing on the water regulation and operation plan of Ban Ve, Khe Bo and Chi Khe hydropower reservoirs.

In February 2023, thanks to efforts to regulate water and increase discharge flow of hydroelectric reservoirs, pumping stations along Lam River in Thanh Chuong and Do Luong districts were able to operate, providing water for rice cultivation in the spring of 2023. Photo: Phu Huong

Specifically, from April 22, 2023 to April 26, 2023, every day, Ban Ve, Khe Bo, and Chi Khe hydropower reservoirs will operate to discharge water downstream as follows: Ban Ve reservoir operates to ensure the total average discharge flow is not less than 200.0 m³/s; Khe Bo lake operates to discharge water continuously for at least 13 hours/day, ensuring a discharge flow of not less than 280.0 m³/s, remaining time ensures discharge volume is not less than 95.5 m³/s; Chi Khe lake operates to discharge water continuously with a total discharge flow equivalent to the flow to the lake.

From April 27, 2023 to April 30, 2023, Ban Ve, Khe Bo, and Chi Khe hydropower reservoirs will operate to regulate water and other contents will remain the same as Official Dispatch No. 2641/UBND-NN dated April 11, 2023 of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee. Specifically, Ban Ve reservoir will operate daily to ensure the average total discharge flow is not less than 65 m³/s, Khe Bo lake operates to discharge water continuously with a flow rate of not less than 95.5m³/s, Chi Khe lake operates to discharge water continuously with a total discharge flow equivalent to the flow to the lake.

Khe Bo Hydroelectric Reservoir. Photo: Nghe An Newspaper

The document also stated that during the implementation process, based on the actual situation of water use and weather conditions, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to propose releasing water from Ban Ve, Khe Bo, and Chi Khe hydropower reservoirs with appropriate water flow to ensure effective and economical water supply for production and people's lives in the downstream areas.