Nghe An: Dam lake still dry despite entering rainy season

Despite the rains, Ve Vung reservoir in Dong Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) only reached 10% of its water capacity. (Photo taken on September 30, 2020). Photo: Van Truong

We come toVe Vung Reservoir,Dong Thanh commune - the largest reservoir in Yen Thanh district during the rainy season, however, the lake bed is dry and bare bottom. Fishing boats lie still along the lake bed, some areas of the dam bed have dry, cracked ground, and overgrown grass.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Trang - Head of Nam Reservoir Cluster (Yen Thanh Irrigation Enterprise) said: Ve Vung Reservoir has a capacity of 22 million m3water, irrigating over 500 hectares of rice in 7 communes of Yen Thanh district. Since its operation (1975) until now, for the first time in history, the water level in the lake has dropped to its lowest level.

Some areas of Ve Vung Lake were "exposed to the bottom" on the morning of September 30, 2020. Photo: Van Truong

According to the rule, every year in June and July after storms is the time when the lake can receive water from upstream to accumulate in the reservoir. However, this summer, the rains came late, less than in previous years, combined with the prolonged hot weather, causing the water level in many areas of the lake to dry up. If it continues to not rain, there is a risk of water shortage for the next 500 hectares of spring rice.

Quang Thanh commune reservoir (Yen Thanh), buffaloes and cows graze in the middle of the lake. Photo taken on September 30, 2020. Photo: Van Truong

Yen Thanh district has over 200 large and small reservoirs. Currently, most of the reservoirs are running out of water, affecting over 4,000 hectares of rice fields in the reservoir area.

Regarding the Vuc Mau reservoir in Quynh Trang ward, Hoang Mai town, which has the largest capacity in the province, there is also concern. According to Hoang Mai Irrigation Enterprise: At this time of year, the amount of water stored in the reservoir reaches more than half of the design capacity, Vuc Mau reservoir has to open the spillway to release floodwaters several times, but this year, the water source in the reservoir has been seriously depleted; the rains have appeared much less. Over the past 9 months, Vuc Mau reservoir has only received 3 rains but it is not enough. Up to this point, the water level of Vuc Mau reservoir has only reached30/75 million m³.

The water level of Vuc Mau reservoir (Quynh Trang ward, Hoang Mai town) only reached 30/75m.3water, photo taken on September 29, 2020. Photo: Van Truong.

It is known that Vuc Mau reservoir has a capacity of nearly 75 million m³water, basin area 215 km², irrigating nearly 1,300 hectares of crops and providing domestic water for the entire Hoang Mai town and industrial parks in the area. At this time every year, Vuc Mau reservoir has to release water, but up to this point the water level has only reached30/75 million m³.

Bai Son commune reservoir (Do Luong) water level is only 20%, photo taken on September 28, 2020. Photo: Van Truong

Facing the risk of water shortage in Vuc Mau reservoir, the Provincial People's Committee has recently repaired the water intake sluice under the dam to avoid loss and leakage. According to Hoang Mai Irrigation Enterprise: If it continues to not rain, the remaining water will be used economically to irrigate spring rice; at the same time, mobilize field pumping stations to pump "regressive" water from ponds and dead-end rivers to irrigate rice. Especially, pumping water from self-flowing canals to support the Vuc Mau reservoir area.

According to the report of the Irrigation Department, Nghe An is the locality with the second largest number of reservoirs in the country, including 1,061 reservoirs, of which 97 are managed by State-owned enterprises, the rest are managed by localities, districts and communes. At this time of year, many reservoirs have to release water to ensure safety during the rainy season, but this year, due to prolonged heat and little rain, the reservoir water level is only 20-30%, especially many reservoirs have run out of water.

The representative of the Irrigation Department added: The rainy season will end around the beginning of November. If it does not rain, it will pose a great danger of water shortage for production and people's daily life.

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