Proposing Ban Ve Hydropower Plant to release water so that pumping stations along Lam River can operate

Water resources are still difficult.

In Thanh Chuong, the irrigation water source for 700 hectares "receiving" water from pumping stations along the Lam River is still very difficult at this point. After being able to operate again from 2:00 p.m. on January 31, Cat Van pumping station had to stop pumping at midnight on January 31 due to low water levels, and the area supplied with water for production from the operation of Cat Van pumping station is insignificant.

On the morning of February 1, a working group led by the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development inspected the water source situation at Ru Nguoc pumping station (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Phu Huong

At the meeting, Mr. Le Dinh Thanh, Vice Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee, requested the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to work and propose increasing the water discharge flow for the downstream area, so that on that basis, Thanh Chuong District People's Committee can direct communes and pumping stations to take advantage of time and use maximum capacity to pump water, and at the same time guide and advise people to squeeze water reasonably to ensure timely production.

Many spring crop areas in Thanh Chuong have reached the rice planting season but there is no irrigation water source. Photo: Phu Huong

Before Tet, pumping stations along Lam River in Do Luong district also had no more water to pump; about 200 hectares of Luu Son, Trung Son, Thuan Son communes... could not be planted due to difficulties in water sources.

Water source is running out at Trung Son pumping station (Do Luong). Photo: Phu Huong

However, up to this point, according to information from the district's Department of Agriculture, the communes have mobilized hundreds of workers to dredge canals and bring water in, basically overcoming the water shortage and starting to plant. This spring crop, Do Luong district produced 8,600 hectares of rice, of which nearly 1,000 hectares "ate" Lam River water.

Actively regulate water for pumping stations to operate

After checking the actual situation at pumping stations as well as at a number of projects being invested in construction and upgrading, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Thanh Vinh emphasized: In the increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, irrigation water sources are sometimes in short supply, proactive response solutions are very necessary.

The water level at Do Luong bar is also decreasing compared to the design. Photo: Phu Huong

In the immediate future, the Department of Agriculture will continue to work with hydropower units to discuss and propose increasing discharge flow and providing production water to downstream areas so that districts can complete spring rice planting.

At the same time, the Irrigation Department was assigned to review and re-evaluate the amount of water supplied as well as the current needs of the districts using water from the Northern Irrigation System. If it is not too necessary, it will continue to regulate and prioritize increasing the amount of water so that the pumping stations along Lam River in the downstream area of ​​the Southern Irrigation System can operate, providing water for people to sow and plant crops in time.

Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development inspects the construction progress of the pumping station upgrade project in Cat Van commune (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Phu Huong

Comrade Phung Thanh Vinh also requested construction units to mobilize maximum human resources and means to speed up the construction progress of irrigation works, quickly ensuring conditions to serve production in the area.