Nghe An operates Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir to cut and reduce floods downstream
On the morning of August 27, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province issued two urgent documents on the operation of Ban Ve hydropower reservoir to cut and reduce floods; and ensure safety in downstream areas.
Urgent document No. 165, Order to operate Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir to cut and reduce floods downstream clearly states:
According to the report of Ban Ve Hydropower Company in Official Dispatch No. 203 dated August 27, regarding the operation of Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir to reduce flooding downstream: The water flow to Ban Ve Reservoir at 7:00 a.m. on August 27 was 1,824 m3/s; Ban Ve Lake water level at 7:00 a.m. on August 27 was 192.92 m; at 7:00 a.m. on August 27, it was discharging through the generator and overflowing with a flow of 970 m3/S.
Head of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention - Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province ordered:
The Director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company continues to operate Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir to discharge water downstream with a flow rate not greater than the flood flow to the reservoir to cut and reduce floods downstream (according to Point c, Clause 1, Article 8, Decision No. 1605 dated November 13, 2019 of the Prime Minister).
During the flood reduction operation for downstream, if the reservoir water level is likely to reach 200 m, the Director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company will gradually adjust the discharge flow through the project, so that when the reservoir water level reaches 200 m, the discharge flow through the project is equal to the flood flow to the reservoir, and switch to the mode to ensure project safety.
During the operation of cutting and reducing floods downstream, if the flood flow to the lake is at a level of 1,000 m3/s to 1,200 m3/s, Director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company proactively operated to maintain the lake water level at that time.
When the flow to the lake gradually decreases below 1,000 m3/s and unable to increase again, the Director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company gradually lowered the lake water level to the highest water level before the flood.
At the same time, to proactively respond and limit damage during flood reduction operations downstream, in Urgent Document No. 166, the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention - Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province proposed:
People's Committees of districts: Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, Anh Son, Do Luong, Thanh Chuong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc and Vinh city; Heads of provincial departments, branches and sectors, directors of Irrigation LLCs and related units:
Notify authorities at all levels, people, organizations operating on rivers and riverbanks; Aquaculture facilities on rivers, water transport vehicles; Ferry terminals; Production, business, and sand and gravel exploitation activities to know information about flood discharge from hydroelectric reservoirs to proactively take preventive measures to ensure safety of people and property.
Review flood prevention plans to ensure safety downstream, especially the dike system and residential areas on riverbanks to be ready to respond.
Direct information and communication agencies to increase the time and frequency of reporting on the media, especially the radio system in wards and communes about the discharge of floodwaters from reservoirs; at the same time, coordinate with specialized agencies to provide flood prevention skills to people and relevant agencies and units to deploy response and minimize damage caused by reservoir discharge.
Agencies: Provincial Radio and Television Station, Nghe An Newspaper and news agencies and newspapers increase broadcasting time to report on the operation of Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir to cut and reduce floods downstream, the management work of the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention - Search and Rescue and Civil Defense, provincial departments, branches and sectors so that local authorities and people can proactively prevent.