Ban Ve Hydropower Company increases water discharge to 'save' spring rice in downstream areas
(Baonghean.vn) - To combat drought and "save" spring rice in downstream districts, from today (February 28), Ban Ve Hydropower Company has increased the discharge flow from 75m3/s to 200m3/s. This discharge level will be maintained for 3 consecutive days from February 28 to March 1, 2024.
Currently, the 2024 spring rice crop is entering the tillering period and is one of the peak water use periods. Pumping stations in the districts of Anh Son, Do Luong, Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen... take water directly from the Ca River and pumping stations take water from the Southern irrigation system and the Northern irrigation system are operating at maximum capacity to provide irrigation water for agricultural production.
However, recently, the water level of the Ca River has dropped, and some pumping stations have been unable to operate at times. Hundreds of hectares of rice in Thanh Chuong and Do Luong districts have suffered from drought.
To implement solutions to minimize the risk of water shortage for downstream areas, on February 23, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held a meeting between the National Power System Control Center, Ban Ve Hydropower Company, Vietnam Electricity Development Joint Stock Company, Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company, People's Committees of Thanh Chuong, Do Luong, Hung Nguyen districts and related departments and units to agree on a plan to regulate water in hydropower reservoirs.
To combat drought in the downstream area, from today (February 28), Ban Ve Hydropower Company has increased the discharge flow from 75m3/s up to 200m3/s. This discharge level will be maintained for 3 consecutive days from February 28 to March 1.
The second increase in discharge volume will be implemented from March 20 to March 24 (discharge level 200m3/s) and the third phase is expected from April 25 to April 29 with the discharge level increased from 120m3/s (discharge level according to daily process) to 200m3/s, to raise the water level of Lam River, ensure pumping stations can operate, provide timely water to downstream areas to serve drought prevention and spring crop production.
“Following the Government's direction, hydropower plants are actively maintaining maximum water levels to ensure power generation during the peak period of May and June, especially this year which is forecasted to be a dry year, with very difficult water resources, affecting downstream water supply operations and power generation in the coming time. However, providing water for agricultural production is also one of the top priorities, so we will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and localities to best serve production,” said a representative of Ban Ve Hydropower Company.
During the process of increasing water discharge, units will base on the actual situation of water use and weather conditions to discharge water from hydroelectric reservoirs with appropriate water flow and time, ensuring water supply for production and people's lives in downstream areas effectively and economically.
On February 27, 2024, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 1392/UBND-NN on water regulation and operation of hydroelectric reservoirs: Ban Ve, Khe Bo, Chi Khe.
The Standing Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention - Search and Rescue and Civil Defense announced the time for hydropower plants to increase discharge to downstream areas for the first phase from February 28, 2024 to March 1, 2024.
Propose that the People's Committees of districts and Irrigation LLCs direct grassroots irrigation organizations, clusters, and stations to be on duty, monitor river water levels, operate pumping stations to take irrigation water, and store maximum water to serve agricultural production and people's lives.
Propose that localities and units seriously organize implementation.
