There needs to be a management mechanism for Sao River Lake.

(Baonghean) - Sao River Reservoir is a large irrigation project, irrigating thousands of hectares of agricultural land and providing water for many other dams in Nghia Dan district and Thai Hoa town. However, during the operation process, many factors have appeared that could potentially affect the sustainability of Sao River Reservoir's water resources. Therefore, a coordination mechanism between relevant parties is needed...

HSao River Reservoir started construction in 1999, completed in 2003 and was assigned to Phu Quy Irrigation Company Limited for management and irrigation operation since 2005. With a water storage capacity of more than 51 million m3 on a basin of 132 km2, the reservoir is responsible for irrigating nearly 2,000 hectares of agricultural land in Nghia Dan district and Thai Hoa town, while also providing water for other irrigation reservoirs in the area. In addition, water from Sao River Reservoir also plays a very important role in providing water for dairy farming at TH Group's farm.

To exploit and protect the works and irrigation canal system, Phu Quy Irrigation Company Limited has established 3 management stations including: Head Station, West Canal Station and East Canal Station. Mr. Dang Minh Duc - Head of Planning and Technical Department, Phu Quy Irrigation Company Limited said: "Although having to manage a long canal system, passing through many residential areas and mountainous areas with complex terrain, in the past time, the stations have operated and regulated water according to the farming schedule; the station staff and workers actively stick to the works and fields to promptly serve the water needs of farmers".

Sao River Reservoir.

Thus, it can be seen that the Sao River reservoir plays a very important role in the agricultural development of the beneficiary localities. For example, just counting the Dong Canal Management Station, on a canal length of about 20km including the main canal and branch canal, the station has operated irrigation for hundreds of hectares of land for 2 rice production and colored soil for the communes of Nghia Binh, Nghia Hoi, Nghia Phu, Nghia Dan Town (Nghia Dan District) and Nghia My Commune (Thai Hoa Town). At the same time, the Dong Canal Station also creates a source for 4 dams including: Phu Tho, Binh Minh, Doi 7 and Chang village along with many other small irrigation lakes managed by the communes. Therefore, the coordination between localities, especially agricultural cooperatives and the station is always of interest to all parties. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duong - Chairman of Dai Dong Cooperative, Nghia Hoi Commune said: "In recent years, the coordination of water regulation between irrigation staff of Dong Canal Station and the Cooperative has been very smooth. Thanks to that, Sao River Lake has been able to provide timely water supply for farmers' production."

However, during the operation of the lake, many negative factors have appeared that need to be overcome. Mr. Dang Minh Duc said: "According to the reflection of the exploitation stations, there are still acts of encroachment that affect the quality of the canal system, causing waste of water resources". Through discussions with officers and employees of the East Canal Management Station, it is known that the situation of some people throwing garbage into the canal is still happening. There are many times when the station staff collects garbage in the morning, but in the afternoon, the garbage is dumped into the canal. In this case, if not detected and handled promptly, it will lead to blockage or overflow of irrigation water out of the canal.

The officers and staff of the Eastern Canal Management Station also reported the phenomenon that some people have chiseled, dug canals or blocked water in the canal bed and then led the flow into their family's garden or pond, or have not closed the water valve when irrigation is completed, but let the water overflow out of the canal, causing waste of water resources. Mr. Phan Huu Dong - Head of the Eastern Canal Management Station, Phu Quy Irrigation Company Limited, suggested: "Previously, when we still had to pay irrigation fees, the awareness of the beneficiaries of irrigation water resources was better; but since the exemption, the phenomenon of encroachment on canals and wasting resources in the management station has increased somewhat. Therefore, the most important thing is the participation of local authorities at all levels to propagate and mobilize people to raise awareness of protecting and preserving the canal system and using water resources rationally".

Meanwhile, in the upstream area of ​​Sao River reservoir in Nghia Lam, Nghia Loi, Nghia Lac communes, some people still use unreasonable farming methods, affecting the sustainability of water resources. Mr. Le Trung Tam - Head of the Department of Agriculture of Nghia Dan district said: "Localities in the upstream area still have the phenomenon of farming causing siltation in the lake area or encroaching on protective forests, affecting the basin of Sao River reservoir. In addition, the phenomenon of using electric shocks to catch fish still exists in the reservoir area". Therefore, Nghia Dan district People's Committee has submitted a proposal to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to allow Nghia Dan district People's Committee to establish a Steering Committee to manage and use Sao River reservoir water resources in the district.

Mr. Le Hong Son - Vice Chairman of Nghia Dan District People's Committee said: "Currently, Sao River Lake is operated by Phu Quy Irrigation Company Limited and irrigates thousands of farming households in communes and towns, but the lake's water surface is assigned to TH Group for fish farming development. Therefore, the establishment of the Steering Committee for management and use of Sao River Lake water resources will create a mechanism to gather relevant parties to discuss and agree on a direction of closer and more harmonious coordination. Thereby, aiming at the goal of exploiting and using water resources in Sao River irrigation works reasonably, achieving high efficiency, sustainability and protecting the surrounding environment as well as limiting and overcoming the remaining negative aspects".

In my opinion, issuing a coordination mechanism is the right way to use the water resources of Sao River reservoir reasonably and sustainably. Especially, in the context that Nghia Dan is determined to be built into a high-tech agricultural center, in terms of natural potential, in addition to land factors, ensuring water reserves is also a matter of concern.

Thanh Duy