Overcoming the Bara Do Luong spillway failure
(Baonghean.vn) - The collapse of compartments 10 and 11 at Bara Do Luong spillway occurred on the morning of June 7. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu was present to directly direct.
Collapse of the spillway of Do Luong dam
On the morning of June 7, at Do Luong dam, compartments 10 and 11 collapsed. This was a serious incident, causing a drop in the water level at the head of the diversion canal, leading to insufficient water flow into the main canal, causing a water shortage of 50-70% in the Northern Irrigation System, causing drought in the Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu and Dien Chau areas, with a total area of about 20,000 hectares of cultivated rice affected, at a time when water demand is very high. |
| The construction unit is mobilizing machinery and human resources 24/7 to fix the problem. Photo: Phu Huong |
Immediately after the incident, the authorities actively mobilized machinery and equipment to fix the problem. On the afternoon of June 7, comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the working group were present to directly direct the handling of the incident.
At the scene, compartment 10 collapsed completely. Compartment 11 collapsed about 5m. Of which, compartment 11 is being prepared for repair. Initial assessment, these are 2 compartments that have many holes, the concrete is aging, not ensuring strength and the exploitation process of more than 80 years, the broken waterproofing piles will drag the sand of the foundation of the project downstream, making the base hollow, leading to the collapse of spillway compartments 10 and 11.
Currently, irrigation units and localities are focusing on using field pumping stations to pump water back from drainage axes, ponds, and lakes to support. At the same time, the authorities are also using concrete blocks dropped into the front yard to the old spillway elevation to raise the water level, ensuring water supply to the main canal as required.
Fix before June 11
Inspecting the actual situation at the construction site, Mr. Hoang Nghia Hieu - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee acknowledged the efforts of the Project Management Board and the construction unit in proactively implementing remedial measures, mobilizing all means and construction equipment, and focusing on proactively overcoming the incident. Requesting to overcome the problem as soon as possible to ensure the supply of water for domestic use, industrial production and summer-autumn production.
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| Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu and the Department of Agriculture inspected and directed to fix the problem on June 7. Photo: Phu Huong |
The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee directed the construction unit to immediately implement technical measures such as early closing and pile driving, and by June 11 at the latest, ensure the water level for the Do Luong irrigation system at an elevation of over +10 m to ensure both safety and meet irrigation needs; have a plan to complete the construction of the compartments before August 30, 2020, 1 year ahead of the approved schedule.
Nghe An Irrigation Department has announced the impact of the incident so that irrigation units and localities can have plans to combat drought and ensure summer-autumn production progress while overcoming the incident.
In particular, to ensure safety during the handling process, the construction unit must immediately deploy labor safety measures around the area where the incident occurred.
The compartment where the accident occurred was severely damaged.
Do Luong Dam was built in 1934 and completed in 1937. After more than 80 years of exploitation and use, the dam's concrete has been worm-eaten and the steel has rusted. The structure has 12 spillways, each 23m wide, and a 21m wide sand discharge gate. The sand discharge gate was not in operation before.
The Do Luong dam renovation is part of the Northern Nghe An Irrigation System Repair and Upgrade Project. This is a Jica-funded project to restore and upgrade the main works to ensure stable irrigation for more than 28,800 hectares of agricultural land, creating a water supply for industry and daily life for 4 districts of Do Luong, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu and Hoang Mai town. Upgrading and expanding Dien Thanh sluice gate ensures salt prevention, fresh water retention, and water supply for 15,000 hectares. Before the incident, 9 severely damaged sluice gates from No. 1 to No. 9 had been repaired and upgraded.
Mr. Nguyen Truong Thanh - Head of Nghe An Irrigation Sub-Department said: The repair work needs to be carried out in turn to ensure the water supply task, and the sluice gates on the left bank are repaired first due to the severe damage and higher danger. According to the plan, these compartments are expected to be constructed in 2021, however, due to severe damage, the progress must be accelerated and the construction will be carried out in 2020.
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| Some compartments have been completed. Photo: Phu Huong |