Nghe An: Dam runs out of water, nearly 23 thousand hectares of rice fields cracked
(Baonghean.vn) - According to the report of the Irrigation Department, the prolonged heat in recent times has caused a series of reservoirs in Nghe An province to run out of water, and thousands of hectares of rice fields to crack.
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| Cua Truong Dam in My Son Commune, Do Luong District is running out of water. Photo: Le Hoan |
According to the data of the Irrigation Department, due to the lack of rain in Nghe An this year, the amount of water in reservoirs was not replenished, the water level on the Ca River at the headworks did not reach the design level; the water level of dams and canals creating internal sources decreased very quickly, especially small reservoirs.
Total rainfall in Nghe An province from the beginning of 2018 to June 30 was 397.3 mm, 112.8 mm lower than the same period in 2017.
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| The dam is dry, the pumping station of Hung Yen Nam commune has to pump mud to irrigate the rice. Photo: Hoang Hao |
As of July 2, out of 533 dams managed by communes and cooperatives, 25 have reached the dead water level, with the highest number in Tan Ky district with 15 dams. The remaining water level of 305 dams is around 30-50%.
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| Rice fields in Hung Nguyen district are cracked due to many days without irrigation water. Photo: Hoang Hao |
Of the 95 dams managed by enterprises, 40 have water capacity below 50%; 28 have water capacity from 50 - 70%. Water levels at key projects: Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir, Khe Bo... are all lower than the design water level.
Due to lack of irrigation water, many localities have not been able to plant winter-spring rice yet, so as of July 2, the whole province has only been able to plant more than 70 thousand hectares out of the plan of nearly 85 thousand hectares, reaching 83%.
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| So far, in Hung Nguyen district, 1,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice have withered. Photo: Hoang Hao |
If there is no additional rainfall in the coming time and the hot weather continues, the irrigation water shortage will become more serious for nearly 23 thousand hectares of summer-autumn rice - the season that is currently lacking irrigation water.
Currently, localities are proactively allocating funds and mobilizing human resources to dredge ditches and use pumps to pump water from dams, lakes, rivers and streams to save rice.
