Many billion-dollar projects are swept away by water in Ky Son.

(Baonghean) - Through programs and projects, many clean water projects in Ky Son have been invested in and built. However, many projects have been degraded and damaged...

In Ky Son district, after the great flood from 2011 to 2013, more than 50% of the self-flowing domestic water works were severely damaged. For the lightly damaged works, the communes could mobilize people to contribute to repair them themselves, but for the severely damaged works, the large repair budget was left abandoned, while the people suffered from a lack of domestic water.

Due to damaged water works, people in Phieng Po and Pha Danh villages had to buy plastic pipes to bring water for use.

Kim Da village, Pha Danh commune has nearly 100 households, and every year from March to October they always suffer from a lack of water for daily use. Ms. Cut Me Tam said: In 2004, the village built a water tank. However, due to floods, the upstream pipeline was damaged. After that, to have water for daily use, some households pooled money to buy plastic pipes to bring water from the upstream of Kim Da stream, while poor households went to get water near the cliff.

Similarly, in Phieng Po village, Pha Danh commune, there are 62 households. The water tank has been abandoned for a long time, most of the people together buy plastic pipes to get water from streams. Some households together dig concrete pits to "catch" water from the cliffs.

People in Kim Da village, Pha Danh commune get their water source through self-purchased plastic pipes.

Ms. Vi Thi Thanh - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Pha Danh Commune said: The whole Pha Danh Commune has 6 self-flowing domestic water works, with a total of 30 water tanks in 10 villages. However, up to now, more than 2/3 of the water tanks have been abandoned because there is no longer a water supply source. Especially for the villages of Keo Luc 1, Keo Luc 2, Pha Khao... because they are far from the water source, people have to invest in water pipes which is very expensive. People are in dire need of the State's attention to soon repair the works so that people can have water for daily use.

In Nam Can commune, the domestic water project built in 2006 was severely damaged by floods. The State has invested funds for repairs, but it is still not enough. Mr. Ho Chong Nhia - Chairman of Nam Can Commune People's Committee said: The commune has 6 villages and 10 water tanks, but currently the clean water project only meets 40% of the demand. Currently, the water pipeline system in Huoi Poc, Na Kha, Noong De villages... is damaged.

Stretching tarpaulin to collect rainwater for use - a solution of Muong Long people. Photo: Thu Huyen

In Huoi Tu commune, the problem of clean water is even more difficult, there is a shortage of water almost all year round. The whole commune has 22 domestic water tanks, of which 60% have degraded and cannot be used. Not to mention some streams are drying up due to deforestation of the upstream forest. Due to the lack of domestic water, Huoi Tu people have to assign people to stay at home to get water. There are times when water is scarce, many people have to travel 3-4 km into the forest to find water streams seeping from mountain streams to collect and then carry each plastic can home.

The entire Ky Son district has nearly 150 water works serving the daily life of ethnic minority communities with a total investment of nearly 100 billion VND from investment programs such as Program 134, 135/CP... However, due to many reasons, due to high altitude, lack of synchronous investment as well as limited construction survey process, many clean water works have degraded, most communes lack domestic water.

Article and photos: Van Truong