Water levels in rivers in Nghe An are very high.

On the afternoon of July 2nd, the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment held a working session with Nghe An province to monitor water security for production and daily life, and the safe management of reservoirs and dams.

The delegation was led by Comrade Phung Quoc Hien - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly. The delegation included members of the Central Committee of the Party: Phan Xuan Dung - Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; Nguyen Duc Hai - Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Finance and Budget; and Nguyen Hoang Hiep - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development… On the Nghe An side were Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and Mr. Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Photo: Pham Bang

WITHOUT LONG-TERM PLANNING, THERE WILL BE A WATER SHORTAGE.

Reporting to the inspection team, Mr. Nguyen Van De, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that the province currently has 1,061 irrigation reservoirs, including 396 diversion dams; 2 irrigation systems including the Southern Irrigation System and the Northern Irrigation System; and 19 hydroelectric reservoirs.

By 2019, the province had invested in and put into operation 510 centralized domestic water supply projects, with a total designed capacity of nearly 70,000 m3/day, ensuring a water supply for approximately 100,000 households in the province. It is estimated that by the end of 2020, 85% of the rural population will have access to safe and hygienic domestic water.

Within the province, there are approximately 100 damaged reservoirs and dams that need upgrading and repair, but funding is currently unavailable. Local authorities have been diligently inspecting these structures before the rainy season and assessing the current state of irrigation facilities in their areas.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long speaks at the working session. Photo: Pham Bang

However, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep, the irrigation reservoirs in Nghe An only hold 535 million cubic meters of water, which is insufficient, while the demand is very high because 80% of Nghe An's population lives in rural areas.

“Currently, Nghe An province needs 2.6 billion cubic meters of water annually, and in the next five years, the demand will reach 3.2 billion cubic meters per year. Without long-term planning, there will be water shortages. Currently, irrigation works only ensure 55% of irrigation needs; if the Ban Mong project comes into operation, this rate will increase by 10%. Water security for Nghe An is about the present, not the future,” Deputy Minister Hiep said.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep stated that water security in Nghe An is a matter of the present, not the future. Photo: Pham Bang

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development assessed that climate change is impacting Nghe An very quickly. The situation of lowering water levels in rivers throughout Nghe An province is also critical. Upstream sluice gates in Nam Dan are either completely dry or at very low levels.

In addition, due to climate change, Nghe An is also experiencing severe saltwater intrusion. The province is studying the construction of a dam to prevent saltwater intrusion on the Lam River; otherwise, during peak periods, saltwater intrusion could reach 40km inland.

NGHE AN MUST BE MORE DETERMINED

The inspection team conducts an on-site inspection at the Ban Mong water reservoir project. Photo: Pham Bang.

To ensure water security, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development suggested that, in terms of planning, Nghe An province is mainly located in the Ca River basin, but all measurement data is unavailable. Therefore, the province must monitor and obtain measurement data for the Ca River and other rivers.

Furthermore, the demand for water in downstream areas is increasing, as the province is trending towards a higher proportion of industry and services. Therefore, the province's crop restructuring must have a longer-term vision, 20 years, or even 50 years.

“The province needs to build additional irrigation works to both control floods and ensure water supply for downstream areas. Research should be conducted on constructing upstream reservoirs for the Ban Mong reservoir project. This would both regulate and control floods and provide water in the region.”

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep

Regarding dam safety, Nghe An province has 100 dams on the list of unsafe dams requiring repair, including 10 particularly dangerous dams on the national list of 200 dangerous dams. In addition, 23 large dams are still managed by communes, which is problematic.

According to Deputy Minister Hiep, the Ban Mong reservoir project has been delayed for a long time and needs to be accelerated because further delays are unacceptable. Phase 1 involves the headworks, but is currently facing obstacles related to forest land. The province has submitted the necessary documents to the Government, but they require further additions. If the province lacks determination, the project will be difficult to complete.

According to Phan Xuan Dung, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, Nghe An province needs to show greater determination to achieve the progress of phase 1 of the Ban Mong water reservoir project. (Photo: Pham Bang)

Regarding the Ban Mong project, it is expected that the main structure and 8 pumping stations will be completed by the end of 2020, with a budget of 4,370 billion VND. Nghe An province has requested the National Assembly to allow the conversion of 316.2 hectares of protective forest within the reservoir area for the project. Simultaneously, it has requested the allocation of over 620 billion VND for phase 1 and over 3,214 billion VND for phase 2.

According to Mr. Phan Xuan Dung, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, the Provincial People's Committee must prepare complete documentation on the conversion of forest land use and submit it to the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment as soon as possible. The Committee will then review the documents and submit them to the National Assembly Standing Committee according to its authority.

"Nghe An must show even greater determination for the project to achieve the progress of phase 1 within this term," Comrade Phan Xuan Dung emphasized.

The Ban Mong reservoir project is expected to complete the construction of the main structure and 8 pumping stations by the end of 2020. Photo: Pham Bang

Concluding the monitoring session, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien stated that Nghe An, an agricultural province, only meets 55% of its irrigation needs, which is considered low.

Due to natural disasters, steep slopes, and unpredictable storms and floods, dam safety in Nghe An is always a concern. Therefore, the more than 900 dams currently managed by communes need to be re-evaluated by the province to ensure they are adequately equipped to handle incidents when they occur. In addition, Nghe An must have a comprehensive plan for its dam system, as its agricultural advantage remains crucial, to ensure irrigation and water security.

Comrade Phung Quoc Hien - Vice Chairman of the National Assembly - suggested that the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee include water security in the Resolution of the Party Congress for the 2021-2025 term. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the Ban Mong reservoir project, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly stated that for the 316.2 hectares of protected forest, Nghe An province needs to carefully assess and evaluate the current situation. Based on this, a detailed dossier should be prepared for submission to the Government, and then further submitted to the National Assembly for consideration of land use conversion. By the end of August 2020, the province must complete the dossier and submit it to the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment for review, only then will it be eligible for funding allocation for the 2021-2025 medium-term plan.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly also requested the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee to include the issue of water security in the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term, striving to achieve an irrigation rate of 75% by 2025.