Questioning and clarifying issues of management and operation of irrigation and hydroelectric dams

On the afternoon of December 8, continuing the 11th Session, the People's Council of Nghe An province, term XVIII, term 2021-2026, held a question and answer session.

Overview of the question and answer session on the afternoon of December 8. Photo: Pham Bang

Clarifying the dam operation process

Question and answer session on the content group "Prevention and overcoming of consequences caused by natural disasters, especially the impact of floods; management and operation of irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs during the rainy and flood season".

Regarding this content, 12 provincial People's Council delegates asked questions, focusing on many related contents.

Accordingly, delegate Ho Thi Thuy Trang (Hoang Mai unit) raised a question related to the safety of dams and reservoirs in the downstream area. According to the provisions of Decree 114 dated September 4, 2018 of the Government regulating the safety management of reservoirs and dams, flood maps in the downstream area must be developed and approved.

Delegate Ho Thi Thuy Trang questioned the content related to ensuring dam safety. Photo: Thanh Cuong

"Decree 114 has been in effect for more than 4 years. Voters want to know how far the approval for the construction of flood maps has been implemented and how it has been publicly announced to the people. How far has the construction of a database system for lakes and dams in the province gone and has warning information been provided to people in affected areas in a timely manner so that they can proactively prevent and avoid flooding?" - the delegate asked.

Delegate Ho Van Dam (Quynh Luu) asked: In the past, what contents have agencies and departments reviewed to ensure compliance with flood discharge operation procedures to ensure the safety of lakes and dams?

Sharing the same view, delegate Moong Van Tinh (Que Phong) proposed clarifying state management of the operations of hydropower plants in the area.

Delegate Moong Van Tinh (Que Phong) proposed clarifying the state management of the operation of hydropower plants. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Responding to the issue raised by the delegates, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De said: Currently, the province has approved the flood map of the downstream reservoirs in the Ca River basin with scenarios of dam breakage, heavy rain and frequent floods for the dam system with 42 scenarios in the Ca River basin. At the same time, investigations and surveys have been conducted to serve the construction of flood maps for Vuc Mau Lake and Song Sao Lake.

Flood mapping is essential but this is a difficult issue, due to lack of funding, flood mapping has not been implemented. The remaining reservoirs do not have funding to implement mapping. On the other hand, this is a job that requires the application of many modern scientific and technical advances, so it is difficult to find a consulting unit to ensure the required quality.

In the coming time, the province will coordinate with central agencies and management units to develop flood maps for a number of important lakes in order of priority.

Delegate Ho Van Dam (Quynh Luu) questioned about dam management. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Regarding the operation of the irrigation reservoir system and hydroelectric reservoir, Mr. Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee replied:

Nghe An province currently has 1,061 reservoirs and irrigation dams, including 55 large reservoirs, 220 medium reservoirs and 786 small reservoirs; Irrigation Limited Liability Companies manage 101 reservoirs; localities manage 960 reservoirs (mainly small reservoirs). The number of reservoirs that have been repaired and upgraded since 2000 is 374; the number of reservoirs that have not been repaired or upgraded is 687 (70 of which are severely damaged, degraded and at risk of being unsafe). There are 2 reservoirs with sluice gates and operating procedures (Vuc Mau reservoir and Song Sao reservoir); the remaining 1,059 reservoirs are regulated by free flood spillways.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De answered and clarified the questions. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Regarding hydroelectric reservoirs, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said: "Of the 22 hydroelectric reservoirs, 20 reservoirs operate under the day and night regulation process; 2 reservoirs operate under the annual water regulation process, namely Ban Ve Hydroelectric Power Plant and Hua Na Hydroelectric Power Plant. For a long time, the operation of dams has been carried out in 2 forms: single reservoir operation process and inter-reservoir operation process. For single reservoir operation, investors operate independently according to regulations."

In Nghe An, the Inter-reservoir Operation Process is implemented in the Ca River area and the Ma River area. These two operation processes are approved by the Prime Minister. In which, the Ma River Operation Process is mainly implemented at Hua Na Hydropower Plant, which affects the downstream area of ​​Thanh Hoa. The Inter-reservoir Operation Process in the Ca River area affects the downstream area of ​​the Ca River (Lam River).

Delegates attending the question and answer session. Photo: Thanh Cuong

According to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De, the current inter-reservoir operation process is strictly implemented and regularly monitored and the flooding incident this year was not caused by hydropower dams releasing floodwaters. 100% of hydropower dams have installed rain gauges and early warning systems.

According to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De, there are 96 rain gauge stations in the province. However, this number is still not enough to meet the requirements and is not synchronized. In the coming time, the province will report to the superiors to arrange funds to build more rain gauge stations, equipment to measure water flow to the lake, and discharge flow so that disaster prevention and control work can synchronize data.

Need to build coordination regulations

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also pointed out the shortcomings and limitations related to the operation of the flood discharge process, which are the problem of inaccurate forecasting and the hydrological monitoring system not meeting the requirements. In addition, the impact on the flow has caused congestion and flooding; the coordination between the authorities and the lake management unit and the people in the affected area is not close and timely.

Delegate Ta Thi Anh (Yen Thanh) questioned about key irrigation works. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Regarding the solution, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said: In the coming time, the province will propose to the superiors to invest in installing a modern monitoring system to ensure more accurate forecasting; strengthen inspection and close supervision of the implementation of reservoir operation procedures to ensure the interests of all parties to make flexible decisions, suitable to reality.

In addition, the province needs to develop a close and synchronous coordination regulation between relevant agencies and units to organize the implementation of reservoir operation procedures to ensure safety and high efficiency. There are measures to thoroughly resolve the encroachment of downstream flows and encroachment and encroachment of upstream areas of reservoirs.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade clarified the content of the delegates' questions. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Further clarifying this content, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade - Pham Van Hoa said: The operating procedure is considered a handbook for the entire hydropower project and all hydropower processes in the province have established operating regulations.

In Nghe An province, there are 2 projects: Ban Ve hydropower plant and Hua Na hydropower plant whose flood discharge operation process has been approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the remaining projects are approved by the province; the province assigned the Department of Industry and Trade to be the focal point to collect opinions from all relevant departments and branches to approve the flood discharge operation regulations of hydropower reservoirs; warning mechanism; warning time to ensure flood and storm prevention and control. Along with that is a mechanism for regular close monitoring through the online database system.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Son - Chairman of Nam Dan District People's Committee clarified the representative's reflection that the road to Dai Tue Pagoda had been eroded, causing unsafety for tourists and residents. Photo: Thanh Cuong

“Currently, of the 22 hydroelectric dams, 15 have a database that transmits data directly to the Ministry of Industry and Trade; 2 reservoirs enter data semi-automatically, 5 reservoirs enter data manually. The operation of hydroelectric reservoirs in the province has a strict data system and mechanism,” Mr. Hoa affirmed.

Regarding the flood discharge maps of the downstream areas of hydropower plants, the province currently has two maps of the downstream areas of the Ma River and the Ca River. Of which, the Ca River map has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. However, the current use of the map is not effective. In September 2022, the Department of Industry and Trade advised the Provincial People's Committee to report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for clarification to serve the management work.

Responding to the question of the delegates about the impact of dam management on floods, the Director of the Department of Industry and Trade affirmed that the flood discharge complies with the operating procedures. Nghe An has 22 hydroelectric reservoirs and only 2 reservoirs have the function of storing and cutting floods, which are Hua Na Hydroelectric Plant and Ban Ve Hydroelectric Plant. Of which, Hua Na Hydroelectric Plant cuts floods for the downstream of Ma River (Thanh Hoa). Therefore, in reality, only Ban Ve Hydroelectric Plant stores water and cuts floods for Nghe An. Mr. Hoa affirmed that when a hydroelectric plant discharges flood water, it must request permission from the Provincial Flood and Storm Prevention Command and must notify at least 4 hours in advance before releasing flood water. The Director of the Department of Industry and Trade also emphasized: In 2022, Ban Ve Hydroelectric Plant will not discharge flood water.

Mr. Pham Van Hoa also clarified some contents related to the concerns of delegates about the planning, design, reservoir elevation of Chi Khe Hydropower Plant (Con Cuong) and the landslide issue related to the reservoir of this project.

Delegates attending the question and answer session. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Proactively respond to situations

Concluding the questioning session and answering questions, comrade Thai Thanh Quy assessed: The delegates raised short, concise questions, going straight to the point; representatives of leaders of relevant sectors and units had a firm grasp of issues in the management field, and answered fully and frankly the delegates' questions and debates.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council concluded the questioning session. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Council emphasized that Nghe An is one of the localities that is regularly and seriously affected by natural disasters and floods. Reality is posing many issues that need to be addressed and overcome.

Many irrigation dams are degraded, with high risks of unsafety. There is a lack of monitoring equipment, a lack of modern forecasting equipment; an inadequate reservoir operation monitoring system and a safety warning information system for dams and downstream areas; no flood maps have been developed; there is a lack of a system for storing records and databases, etc.

Flood discharge operations at some large hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs lack close coordination with local authorities, and information and propaganda work for the people has not received due attention, leading to people still being passive and not having access to information. Funding sources for overcoming the consequences of natural disasters are limited,...

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy suggested that the Provincial People's Committee should pay attention to promoting propaganda work to raise awareness of organizations and individuals on the management and safe operation of dams and reservoirs, natural disaster prevention and control, and search and rescue, with the viewpoint of "safety of life and protection of people's property are first and foremost". The organization should closely monitor the developments of rain, floods and the operation of reservoirs and inter-reservoirs to direct flood prevention and control and handle unusual situations that affect downstream safety.

At the same time, strengthen the urging, inspection and guidance of relevant organizations and individuals to implement legal regulations on the management and safety of dams and reservoirs; resolutely handle organizations and individuals who violate the law; pay attention to investing in repairing and upgrading damaged, degraded dams and reservoirs that do not ensure safety before the annual rainy and flood season. Organize drills and guide people to proactively respond to emergency situations.

Develop and effectively implement local disaster prevention and control plans; inspect and review disaster response plans in the area according to the "four on-site" motto, especially plans to ensure dam safety; focus on improving the quality of forecasting and warning about natural disasters.

At the same time, increase investment in infrastructure, supplement means, equipment, and support tools. It is necessary to review and soon have a plan to evacuate people from areas at risk of landslides throughout the province; speed up the implementation of infrastructure construction projects for resettlement areas to urgently evacuate people from disaster areas.