Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee inspects drought prevention and forest fire prevention in Ham Thuan Nam

BTO-On the afternoon of April 9, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Doan Anh Dung and representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Provincial Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited, and related units and localities inspected drought prevention and forest fire prevention work in Ham Thuan Nam district.

Accordingly, the delegation inspected the Ba Bau and Tan Lap reservoirs; inspected and grasped the construction status of the Thuan Nam Water Plant upgrade; the actual water shortage situation in the Ta Mon Lake area and visited the dragon fruit gardens of local households. Also during the trip, the delegation inspected forest fire prevention work in the Ta Kou Nature Reserve (Ta Cu).

*Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Doan Anh Dung (third from right) meets with people in drought-affected areas.*

At the places visited for drought inspection, the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee listened to reports from units and localities on the drought situation and the prevention solutions implemented in the area. Specifically, in the first quarter of 2024, especially in March and early April 2024, prolonged heat led to drought and water shortage.

*Current status of Ta Mon lake on the afternoon of April 9.*

As of April 8, the remaining useful water volume of reservoirs in Ham Thuan Nam district is about 11.1 million ^m3 /45.8 million ^m3, reaching 24.3% of the design, about 6.2 million ^m3 lower than the same period. Currently, only Du Du and Tan Lap reservoirs are still irrigating the last session of dragon fruit and are expected to end the last session on May 4. The remaining projects have run out of water or have stopped supplying irrigation water to save for domestic use.

*Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee met with households whose crops were affected by drought in Ham Thuan Nam.*

*The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee discussed with the leaders of the Provincial Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited.*

In general, Ham Thuan Nam district is seriously lacking water resources, the current irrigation water source only meets about 50% of the locality's existing crop area. Currently, the locality has developed a specific plan to regulate and use water reasonably, in accordance with the water source capacity to arrange production; in which, priority is given to drinking water for livestock, irrigation water for perennial crops with high economic value such as dragon fruit. Specifically identify areas that ensure irrigation, areas at risk of drought, water shortage to adjust the production plan and arrange appropriate crop structure, ensuring effective production...

*The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the working delegation inspected Thuan Nam Water Plant.*

After inspecting the situation, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Doan Anh Dung requested the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, relevant departments and localities to strictly implement solutions to prevent and combat drought and water shortage; ensure water sources for production and daily life and strengthen forest fire prevention and fighting.

*Provincial leaders inspect forest fire prevention work.*

Ham Thuan Nam District People's Committee disseminates information to people about the impact of El Nino phenomenon, the risk of drought, water shortage, and saltwater intrusion in 2024 to have a plan to use water economically, proactively implement response measures, accumulate and store water sources to serve long-term drought prevention such as digging ponds, drilling wells; prioritize domestic water, drinking water for livestock, irrigation water for perennial crops with high economic value. At the same time, the District People's Committee needs to specifically identify areas that can be irrigated, areas at risk of drought and water shortage to adjust production plans and arrange crop structures suitable to water resources, ensuring effective production; guide farmers to apply solutions to use water economically and irrigate crops in an advanced way.

*The risk of forest fires is very high in Ham Thuan Nam.*

Regarding forest fire prevention and fighting, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested that this be considered an important task, it is necessary to consolidate plans and create fire prevention and fighting maps. In particular, the People's Committee of Ham Thuan Nam district and related functional agencies must specifically identify key areas according to the forest fire forecast level; promptly deploy forest fire prevention and fighting solutions with the main goal of prevention. Along with that, regularly patrol and control areas at high risk of fire, monitor and promptly notify forest fire forecast levels in the district. Assign forces to be on duty 24/24 hours during the peak of the dry season; strictly control people entering and exiting forest areas at high risk of forest fires; promptly detect fire spots, mobilize forces to participate in controlling and extinguishing forest fires in the shortest time, not allowing large fires to occur...

Source