Department of Irrigation inspects drought and water shortage prevention and control in Binh Thuan

BTO-On March 22, Mr. Nguyen Hong Khanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Irrigation (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and his delegation had a working trip to Binh Thuan province on drought prevention and water shortage in the area.

Receiving and working with the delegation were Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuoc - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and a number of related units.

*Leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development expressed their opinions at the meeting.*

At the meeting, the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that as of March 21, 2024, the whole province had 41 communes, wards and towns in 5 districts and Phan Thiet city with 26,872 households lacking local domestic water. Of which, Bac Binh district had 2 communes lacking water with a total of 110 affected households. In Ham Thuan Bac district, there were 10 communes and towns lacking water with a total of 5,321 affected households/15,449 people; Phan Thiet city had 3 communes lacking water with a total of 248 affected households; Ham Tan district had 10 communes and towns lacking water with a total of 3,690 affected households/14,488 people; Tanh Linh had 4 communes lacking domestic water with 594 households/2,158 people...

*Current drought situation at Ta Mon Lake (Ham Thuan Nam).*

Regarding water sources for agricultural production, the Provincial Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited said that the area currently damaged by drought and water shortage is 365 hectares, mainly dragon fruit and vegetables in Ham Thuan Nam and the area at risk of damage due to drought and water shortage is 1,175 hectares. The current difficulty is that small-scale reservoirs such as Tan Lap, Ta Mon, Tan Ha, Song Khan... do not have much water storage capacity. In some areas, people are not aware of protecting irrigation works. Therefore, the Company recommends that localities dredge intra-field canals, propagate and disseminate to people about the possibility of drought and water shortage... According to the plan, in the coming time, the company will continue to manage water sources, regulate water reasonably, irrigate 23,910 hectares of winter-spring rice, 19,330 hectares of dragon fruit and 411 hectares of aquaculture. Regarding domestic water supply, continue to supply water to water plants with a plan of 8,220,000 m3/month.

*Mr. Nguyen Hong Khanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Irrigation directed at the meeting.*

After listening to the report on the actual situation of water resources, difficulties and proposals from the locality and delegates attending the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Hong Khanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Irrigation suggested that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Thuan should make a suitable water supply plan.

In particular, priority is given to providing domestic water and ensuring irrigation water for rice production until June 2024. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda for people to use water economically. The leaders of the Department of Irrigation also recommended that localities develop concentrated production plans and postpone the production time of the next rice crop based on balancing irrigation water sources. For domestic water, it is necessary to ensure adequate supply. In case of water shortage at water supply works, localities should develop plans to transport water to concentrated locations to serve people's daily life...

*The delegation inspected the site at Ta Mon reservoir.*

Immediately after the working session, the working delegation of the Department of Irrigation together with representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited and related localities inspected a number of irrigation works and areas with difficulties in water resources in Ham Thuan Nam and Tanh Linh districts.

*The delegation inspected the actual drought situation in Binh Thuan.*

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of March 21, 2024, the current useful water volume of irrigation reservoirs in the province is 115.14/363.55 million m³, reaching 31.7% of the design, 38.85 million m³ lower than the same period. The current useful water volume of hydroelectric reservoirs: Ham Thuan has 353.93/522.50 million m³, reaching 67.7% of the design, 125.96 million m³ higher than the same period; Dai Ninh hydroelectric reservoir has 155.27/251.73 million m³, reaching 61.7% of the design, 13.69 million m³ higher than the same period.

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