Co Hac River is in danger of disappearing.

(Baonghean.vn) -The Co Hac River flowing through Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district is facing the risk of being wiped out due to serious encroachment on its flow.

Encroachment on the river for housing construction has caused many sections of the river to seriously narrow. Photo: Nhu Suong

For a long time, the Co Hac River has been considered the main source of water for agricultural production as well as flood drainage during the rainy season in Dien Hong commune. However, in recent years, along with the development of population and economic activities, the river has been seriously encroached, many sections are now only as wide as... one foot.

A section of the Co Hac River flooded with water hyacinth and garbage. Photo: Nhu Suong

Ms. Dau Thi Huyen, residing in Trung Thanh hamlet, Dien Hong commune, was upset: “My house is right next to the river. In the past, the river was 7-8 meters wide, there were a lot of fish and shrimp and the water was very clear, children in the village often went down to bathe. But in recent years, a lot of garbage, dead chickens and pigs everywhere have been flowing down with the water, making the water smell bad, turning it pitch black, and the fish and shrimp are gradually disappearing. Now no one dares to wade down for fear of getting their feet cut by broken pieces of pottery and glass."

Many households on both banks have encroached on the river to build houses, causing the riverbed to narrow significantly, with some sections only as wide as... one footstep.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, a resident living along the river, said: The well water of his family and many other households along both banks is contaminated with river water, so it has a fishy smell. Because of fear of unsafe water sources, for many years now, he has had to buy water from other places at high prices.

According to Mr. Thang, the strong growth of water hyacinth makes the flow more and more blocked, flooding is common during the rainy season. In addition, flies, mosquitoes, and larvae are densely distributed. As for agricultural production activities of farmers, they have not been able to rely on the river for a long time...

A polluted, silted-up section of the river. Photo: Nhu Suong

Some points on the river have the most serious encroachment, such as the section through Ai Quoc hamlet, Trung Hong... the riverbed has narrowed to the size of a small ditch.

It is known that the Co Hac River is a small branch that flows into the Vach Bac River. Although not long, this is the main drainage river for this area. However, for many years now, the drainage capacity of the river has not been available.

We hope that the authorities will soon have a solution before the approaching storm season to ensure the lives of people on both sides of the river./.

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