A plan to fix the Bau Nai dam problem should be implemented soon.

(Baonghean)Bau Nai Dam is one of the important irrigation works located in My Son commune, Do Luong district, with a storage capacity of 1 million to 1.1 million cubic meters of water.

The structure was built nearly 30 years ago, using manual excavation and construction by the local people. After years of operation, in 2008, Do Luong district and My Son commune mobilized nearly 500 million VND to upgrade the dam by constructing and paving the embankment. Currently, the dam is a crucial irrigation project, ensuring a consistent water supply for over 150 hectares of agricultural land annually in the commune.



A large crack has appeared at the base of the upstream embankment of the Bau Nai - Do Luong dam.

Currently, the Bau Nai dam is at risk of cracking and leaking water. Following Mr. Vo Thanh Luc, Chairman of the My Son Commune People's Committee, we witnessed cracks on the downstream side of the dam body bulging up at the base of the upstream slope. During an inspection by the commune in early March, the amount of water seeping from inside the dam to the outside was increasing. The cause was identified as termite damage from within. Immediately after the water leakage incident, the Commune People's Committee submitted a report to the Do Luong District People's Committee requesting a solution to the problem.

Reportedly, immediately after receiving the information, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Provincial Irrigation Sub-Department inspected the site and directed relevant departments and My Son commune to focus on rectifying the problem at the Bau Nai dam; assigning responsibility to the district and commune to arrange 24/7 monitoring to prevent the risk of dam failure. During this inspection, the team also advised My Son commune to take advantage of funding from the Bau Nai dam upgrade project before this year's rainy season.

The water leakage at the Bau Nai dam, if not addressed promptly, could lead to dam failure. This would not only wipe out the primary water source for agricultural production but, more importantly, would endanger the lives and safety of 15 households in Hamlet 6 of My Son commune. The current priority is for relevant authorities to provide timely support and develop a plan to rectify the problem at the Bau Nai dam as soon as possible.

Luong Mai