Expanding boundaries, not extending dyke protection responsibilities

Concerns from the dike and riverside areas

From July 1, the two-level local government apparatus in Hanoi officially operated under the new model. Although very excited about the new commune, many households living along the dikes and river banks: Hong, Da, Duong, Day... of Hanoi are still worried.

Living along the Da River, many households in Van Hoi village (Co Do commune) are worried about the safety of the dike during the upcoming flood season. *Photo: Kim Nhuệ*

Mr. Ngo Van Lich, a resident of Van Hoi village (Co Do commune) shared: "Living along the Da River, my house was once cracked due to the landslide of Phong Van embankment. Thanks to the timely support of local forces, there were no casualties. Now Phong Van commune has merged with 5 other communes to form the larger Co Do commune, I wonder if it will still receive timely attention like before...".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, a resident of Hat Mon commune, said: "At this time last year, Ngoc Tao commune directed people to go to the dike guard post. But now that 6 more communes have been merged into Hat Mon commune, we don't know which dike sections we will go to guard...".

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang in Tran Phu commune, a locality that often experiences flooding due to forest floods from upstream, hopes: "The commune will soon complete the command agency, so that when there is heavy rain or a dike incident, the government will have someone directly in charge, directing and responding promptly as before."

Many newly constructed dike locations have not been tested against large floods, increasing people's worries during the flood season. *Photo: Kim Nhuệ*

Not only the people, but also local officials are in the process of getting acquainted with the new apparatus and new area. In many communes, the work of reviewing forces and assigning tasks for dike protection is still being updated, awaiting specific instructions from superiors. Initial confusion is inevitable, but it also requires quickly perfecting the response plan to natural disasters, avoiding being passive when natural disasters and incidents arise.

Dike protection in the new situation

On the morning of July 1, the Hanoi dike management agency adjusted the dike area to match the new administrative unit. *Photo: Bao Chau*

Speaking with reporters of Hanoi Moi Newspaper, Head of the Department of Irrigation and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Chief of Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of Hanoi City Nguyen Duy Du affirmed that the unit has proactively directed the Dike Management Departments to re-determine the boundaries and landmarks of new administrative units corresponding to the dike routes, in order to ensure smooth and unified dike management activities.

At the same time, the Department is urgently organizing the installation of boundary signs between new communes and wards to serve the work of dike management, conducting statistics, reviewing key and vulnerable locations, proactively coordinating with the People's Committees of new communes to adjust and supplement dike protection plans, protect key vulnerable locations, and prevent natural disasters. Technical documents, route maps, and response charts are also updated to ensure that each commune and ward has a clear basis when handling emergency situations.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Du added: "We are urgently completing the placement of boundary signs and dividing the dike lines according to new communes. The Dike Management Departments have simultaneously taken action, conducting a general review of key locations and incident-prone points to adjust the dike protection plan to correspond to the new administrative boundaries."

In the adjusted dike protection plan, the Hanoi Department of Irrigation and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requested communes and wards to proactively prepare sufficient forces, materials, and means on-site, ready to handle dike incidents from the first hour according to the "4 on-site" motto. At the same time, training, field inspection, and organization of dike watch during heavy rains are also carried out, so that no locality is "empty" in terms of people or lacks means when an incident occurs.

Dike Management Unit No. 1 checks supplies and is ready to respond to dike incidents from the first hour. *Photo: Kim Nhuệ*

Currently, the Hanoi dike system has a total length of more than 770km, passing through 79 communes and wards along the dike. The riverbank area is up to 36,000ha, with more than 600,000 people living there. This is a big challenge in controlling violations, organizing enforcement and emergency response if the dike has an incident. Therefore, the dike protection plan cannot be just a paper plan, but needs to be linked to reality and real people, real work.

In the context of the transformation of the local government apparatus, adjusting the dike protection plan is a task that cannot be delayed. It is not only a technical requirement, but also a political responsibility, aiming to protect the lives and property of people living along the river and dike. Proactive, methodical, and practical - that is the way Hanoi must go to maintain the dike as a solid "shield" in the rainy and stormy season.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/mo-rong-dia-gioi-khong-gian-trach-nhiem-ho-de-707560.html