Nghe An: Hydropower plant regulates water level to dead level, many fish cages run aground

On May 14, Mr. Nguyen Huu Hien - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district said that immediately after receiving information about fish in cages in Tam Thai and Xa Luong communes dying abnormally, the district set up an inspection team and initially determined the cause.

According to Mr. Hien, the cause of the fish deaths was that Khe Bo Hydropower Plant implemented a plan to regulate water downstream during the power outage to serve the connection and energization of the 220kV Tuong Duong transformer station, causing the water level of Khe Bo Hydropower Reservoir to dry up to the dead water level. Accordingly, some fish cages were stranded, leading to the fish in some cages dying.

Fish cages stranded. Photo: TH

Through inspection, 7 fish cages on Khe Bo Hydropower Reservoir in Xa Luong and Tam Thai communes were affected, causing 371 kg of fish to die. Currently, the District People's Committee has directed the Commune People's Committees to promptly support fish farmers to move their cages to locations with sufficient depth to limit damage to people.

To promptly encourage and help people overcome the damage, the People's Committees of Xa Luong and Tam Thai communes organized a working group to directly inspect and provide initial support to households with a total amount of 5.5 million VND (Xa Luong 3 million VND; Tam Thai 2.5 million VND).

Khe Bo Hydropower Reservoir has dried up. Photo: TH

"In the long term, the District People's Committee will strengthen direction and propaganda for people to only develop cage fish farming in areas with stable water depth to ensure the development of cage fish farming," said Mr. Hien.

In addition, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district also requested Khe Bo Hydropower Plant to have a support policy to help affected households restore production and stabilize their lives soon.

Khe Bo Hydropower Reservoir is very favorable for aquaculture development, especially cage fish farming, to develop the economy for households living around the reservoir. This is the main and stable source of income for the people. Therefore, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district requested Khe Bo Hydropower Plant to minimize bringing the lake water level to the dead water level during normal operation so that people raising cage fish can feel secure in developing their economy.

In the coming time, when proposing an operating plan different from the inter-reservoir operating process in Decision 1605/QD-TTg dated November 13, 2019 of the Prime Minister, the district recommends that owners of hydroelectric reservoirs, before submitting to competent authorities for approval of water regulation plans, should consult with local authorities to limit damage to people like the recent incident.

Tuong Duong district currently has 157 households raising fish in cages on the hydroelectric reservoir. Photo: TH

According to statistics from the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district, there are currently 157 households raising fish in cages on hydroelectric reservoirs, with a total of 429 cages in 9 communes. Cage fish farming by households has been developing normally for a long time. However, cage fish farming on hydroelectric reservoirs still faces many difficulties, especially Khe Bo Hydroelectric Reservoir due to continuous changes in water levels. In particular, from May 8-11, 2022, the water level of Khe Bo Hydroelectric Reservoir decreased, which has never happened before, leading to the impact of some households raising fish in cages in the communes of Tam Thai and Xa Luong./.