Overcoming shortcomings, urgently protecting key weak points of dikes

Inadequacies arise in disaster prevention

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa (second from left) led a delegation to inspect key areas of the dike system in Da Phuc commune. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa led a working delegation to inspect the current status and disaster response preparations at five key dyke points in the city, including: Xuan Canh and Long Tuu embankments and culverts (Dong Anh commune); Lien Mac culvert (Thuong Cat and Dong Ngac wards); Cam Dinh culvert (Phuc Loc commune); Tan Hung - Cam Ha dyke and culvert section (Da Phuc commune) and Yen So culvert cluster (Yen So ward).

Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa inspects key dyke weaknesses in Dong Anh commune. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

According to the Head of the Hanoi Department of Irrigation and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Nguyen Duy Du, these are projects that have experienced landslides, subsidence, dike cracks, extrusion veins, aquifer veins, or have weak geological foundations, affected by currents close to the shore... so the risk of insecurity when heavy rains and floods occur is very high.

At the inspection, leaders of relevant localities, such as communes and wards: Da Phuc, Phuc Loc, Dong Anh, Thuong Cat, Dong Ngac, Yen So and construction management units said that they have been developing plans and plans for natural disaster prevention; strengthening the Civil Defense Command, arranging human resources, means and materials according to the "4 on-site" motto. All material warehouses and dike guard posts were carefully checked and counted, focusing on plans to protect each key and vulnerable location, with scenarios for handling incidents according to each specific situation.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa inspects Long Tuu sluice, a key point of the city's dike system, Dong Anh commune section. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

However, the inspection also revealed some shortcomings that arose after the arrangement of administrative units and the implementation of the two-level local government model. For example, at Lien Mac sluice, a key and vital project at the city level located on the Hong right dike, which was previously the responsibility of Bac Tu Liem district, has now been transferred to Thuong Cat and Dong Ngac wards. However, the material warehouse is currently located in Thuong Cat ward, causing difficulties in coordination when situations arise.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa inspects Lien Mac sluice, a key point of the city's dike system in Thuong Cat and Dong Ngac wards. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

At the Yen So drainage project cluster, Deputy Director of Hanoi Drainage One Member Co., Ltd. Pham Ngoc Toan said that the unit has completed the repair of construction incidents that occurred during the 2024 flood season, repaired the engine, and is ready to operate the station to drain water for the inner city and support the suburbs when there is heavy rain.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa inspects Yen So flood control project cluster, a key point of the city-level dike system in Yen So ward. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

To operate the pumping station safely and effectively, the company requested that the authorities consider allowing the early purchase of additional spare parts, as all replacement parts must be imported. “The bidding, transportation and import process usually takes 8 to 10 months, and if an engine problem occurs, the consequences will be very serious,” Mr. Toan emphasized.

Urgent protection of key dyke points

Vice Chairman of Thuong Cat Ward People's Committee Nguyen Quang Tien reported that some shortcomings have arisen in natural disaster prevention and control work after the rearrangement of administrative units and the implementation of the two-level local government model. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

Concluding the inspection, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa highly appreciated the proactive and serious spirit of localities and units in implementing the city's direction. At the same time, he requested the People's Committees of communes and wards along the dike to continue reviewing and perfecting the organization of the Civil Defense Command Committee, effectively coordinating in directing and operating disaster response.

Based on the approved plan to protect key and vulnerable dykes, units and localities need to specifically deploy it in the field according to the "four on-site" principle, paying special attention to clearly assigning people and tasks, and determining the specific location, quantity and quality of mobilized resources. Response plans need to be updated regularly, closely following actual developments, to avoid confusion when unusual situations occur.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Drainage One Member Co., Ltd. Pham Ngoc Toan reported some shortcomings related to the procurement of replacement materials for key disaster prevention projects. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa also requested units and localities to organize forces and strictly implement the regime of patrolling and guarding dikes during the flood season in accordance with current regulations; at the same time, closely monitor the water level of rivers, the development of banks, the status of dike works, especially key and vulnerable locations such as river dikes, culverts under the dikes... to promptly report, synthesize and handle from the first hour, ensuring the safety of the dike system throughout the city.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Dinh Hoa requested units and localities to continue reviewing, promptly overcoming shortcomings, and urgently deploying plans to protect key vulnerable dykes. *Photo: Kim Nhue*

Along with that, localities and units continue to review to promptly detect signs of unsafety, thereby proposing appropriate solutions to the reality. For matters beyond their authority, units and localities need to promptly report to the authorities for timely consideration and resolution, in order to ensure absolute safety of key dyke points, a task that the city puts first during the peak of this year's rainy and stormy season.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/khac-phuc-bat-cap-khan-truong-bao-ve-trong-diem-xung-yeu-de-dieu-708611.html