Some pumping stations along Lam River have been operating since the afternoon of January 31.

Some pumping stations have started operating.

As of 2:00 p.m. this afternoon (January 31), atCat Van commune pumping station (Thanh Chuong), the pump has been operating at a suction pipe, operating at about 80% capacity compared to the pipe cross-section. According to Mr. Le Dinh Thanh - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, the pumping stations are currently on duty 24/24h with 100% of the staff, so that when the water level rises enough to operate at any pump, they will start pumping immediately. In areas where the pump has been operating, the irrigation unit must closely coordinate with local authorities to organize regulation and water pressure to serve production.

From 2:00 p.m. on January 31, Cat Van pumping station (Thanh Chuong) started operating due to the rising water level of Lam River. Photo: CSCC

“This spring, Thanh Chuong district planted 8,600 hectares of rice, strictly following the crop calendar. From January 29, people gathered in the fields to plant rice, and it was expected that the planting would be completed in about a week. However, the water shortage started to occur from January 25. Up toAt noon on January 31, in the district, there were about 700 hectares in the communes of Cat Van, Phong Thinh, Dai Dong, Thanh Dong, Dong Van that could not be planted due to lack of water.

Currently, in areas where water has been pumped, the district is directing people to focus on planting spring rice, Mr. Le Dinh Thanh said. If the water source is favorable, in the next 2-3 days, the water shortage in the entire "drought" area of ​​Thanh Chuong will be resolved.

Focus on solutions to provide enough water for planting

The cause of the local water shortage in some production areas of Thanh Chuong and Do Luong districts in recent days, according to Mr. Nguyen Truong Thanh - Head of the Provincial Irrigation Sub-Department, is that although Ban Ve reservoir is operating according to the correct procedure, there has been no rain in recent months, the water flow into the reservoir is low, so the water level is currently about 2m lower than the regulation. Meanwhile, on the Lam River passing through Thanh Chuong and Do Luong districts, the riverbed is getting lower and lower due to sand mining activities, leading to a lower water column, causing difficulties for pumping stations.

Dai Dong pumping station (Thanh Chuong) cannot operate due to the water level being too low. Photo: Phu Huong

In the immediate future, to solve this problem, the Department of Agriculture has directed the implementation of water regulation in the system to create water sources for the downstream area of ​​the Southern irrigation system.
Mr. Phung Thanh Vinh - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: Currently, the water level in the Northern irrigation system is guaranteed, we have directed the regulation of water between the two systems as well as worked and requested Ban Ve Hydropower Company to increase the discharge flow, thanks to that, from the afternoon of January 31, some pumping stations have started operating.

Thanh Chuong district leaders inspect the operations at pumping stations. Photo: Phu Huong

In recent times, implementing the campaign "All people join forces to do irrigation", localities have dredged irrigation canals, the irrigation sector has also coordinated with Ban Ve Hydropower Plant to reasonably regulate water to the downstream area. Currently, localities need to direct and continue to focus on dredging, clearing the flow, and making the most of the water source.

Farmers in Nam Dan district pump water for spring crop production. Photo: Phu Huong

As for the Trung Son pumping station in Do Luong district, funding has been allocated for upgrading and repairing. According to Mr. Phung Thanh Vinh, the Department of Agriculture is directing the acceleration of construction progress, with special priority given to the canal project to quickly and promptly serve production.