Urgent safety inspection of irrigation and hydroelectric dams.

To ensure the safety of hydropower and irrigation projects and people in downstream areas during the 2013 rainy and stormy season, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai requested ministries, sectors, and localities to urgently inspect and assess the safety level of dams at hydropower and irrigation reservoirs.

(Illustrative photo: VNA)

Accordingly, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai requested the Ministry of Construction to review and supplement regulations on quality management of construction projects for irrigation and hydropower reservoirs to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement and the efficiency of management by state management agencies at the central and local levels. He also requested a review and supplementation of regulations on design, construction, and the capacity and experience requirements of design, construction, and supervision consulting units for irrigation and hydropower dams.

At the same time, the Ministry of Construction, in coordination with the Ministries of Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Rural Development, will organize inspections and assessments of the dam safety levels of hydropower and irrigation reservoirs; and compile reports for the Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a plan in collaboration with local authorities to address shortcomings in the quality and safety management of irrigation reservoir dams, ensuring the safety of the structures and the people. In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade resolutely requires hydropower plants to cease water impoundment and power generation when any risk threatening the safety of the structures and the lives of people downstream of the dams is detected. Water impoundment and power generation will only be permitted to resume when all safety conditions are met according to regulations.

The Deputy Prime Minister also requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct the Departments of Industry and Trade, Construction, Agriculture and Rural Development, and other specialized agencies to strengthen supervision and inspection of investment management in the construction of irrigation and hydropower projects in their respective provinces. At the same time, they should strengthen inspections and audits regarding safety, organize supervision of dam safety inspections; and review the management and operation of hydropower and irrigation projects under local management, ensuring compliance with regulations on technical safety management and operation according to approved procedures.

If any risk to the safety of the structure is detected, the investor is required to stop water impoundment and power generation until all safety conditions are met as stipulated./.

According to (VNA) - LH