Press conference on Ka Pet Lake project

Being a leader but not taking care of the people is a mistake to the people. However, the proposal to build Ka Pet reservoir to take care of water for the people, the province will not do it recklessly, unscientifically... That was the statement of comrade Duong Van An - Member of the Party Central Committee - Secretary of Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee at the press conference to inform about the investment policy of Ka Pet reservoir project, Ham Thuan Nam district organized by the Provincial People's Committee, which took place on the afternoon of September 7.

Provincial Party Secretary Duong Van An also went straight to the point, that is, “Currently, public opinion is paying a lot of attention to the Ka Pet reservoir project, so we affirm that Binh Thuan does not have to act recklessly or unscientifically. Binh Thuan province is ready to accept the opinions of the press and scientists. Everyone regrets losing forests, but we cannot let people's lives suffer due to lack of water for daily life and production. The construction of the Ka Pet reservoir brings more positive factors than negative ones. At this meeting, I request that the relevant agencies answer all questions from the press in a non-evasive spirit. For any questions that cannot be answered, please make an appointment with the reporter to answer them in writing later…”. At the same time, I hope that journalists will provide complete and truthful information.

*Provincial Party Secretary Duong Van An and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai at the press conference.*

At the press conference, the Project Management Board (PMU) of Investment and Construction of Agricultural and Rural Development Works informed about the contents related to the preparation work, submission for approval of investment policy, and site clearance work of the Ka Pet Reservoir Project. Accordingly, the Ka Pet Reservoir Project is an important national project decided by the National Assembly and decided to adjust and supplement the investment policy. The scale includes a regulating reservoir with a total capacity of 51.21 million ^m3 , a useful capacity of 47.41 million ^m3 , a canal system and other auxiliary works. The total investment and capital of the project is 874,089 billion VND, including the central budget of 519,927 billion VND and the local budget of 354,162 billion VND. The project implementation period is from 2019 to 2025.

The total project land area is 697.73 ha, of which the forestry land area is 679.72 ha (forested land is 619.58 ha, including special-use forest of 137.95 ha; protective forest of 0.51 ha; production forest of 440.4 ha, land outside the planning of 3 types of forest 40.72 ha and land without forest 60.14 ha); the agricultural production land area is 18.01 ha.

Up to now, the investigation, inventory and assessment of the current forest status has been completed in December 2020, and the results of the forest status inspection will be updated in April 2022...

According to Provincial Party Secretary Duong Van An, Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan are the two driest provinces in Vietnam. This is an area with very low rainfall, only 800 - 1,150 mm/year, many areas are arid, deserted, agricultural production depends only on rainwater. Just calculating the annual agricultural water demand, Binh Thuan needs more than 500 million m3. Therefore, the province's responsibility is to provide water for the people. Over the past terms, Binh Thuan has tried every way, both asking the Central Government and using local resources to build a system of reservoirs and irrigation canals throughout the province. With the terrain characteristics of Binh Thuan, building an irrigation reservoir will more or less affect the forest. But with a lake, the environment will certainly improve because it can store water, increase humidity in the whole area, and create an environment for plants to grow. The Provincial Party Secretary affirmed that every project has its positives and limitations, but the construction of the Ka Pet reservoir brings more prominent positive factors. When proposing this project, the province and relevant units chose the option with the least impact but the highest efficiency.

*Provincial working delegation during a survey at Ka Pet Lake project area.*

Speaking at the press conference, the representative of the consulting unit also said that the location of more than 600 hectares of forest to build an irrigation reservoir was carefully selected by the consulting unit based on available natural conditions. The reservoir must be located on a mountain pass, where water gathers, with terrain that is easy to dam to maximize storage capacity, but with little damage to the forest. The province has analyzed many options, such as the reservoir can hold 60 - 90 million m3, or only 30 - 40 million m3. From there, the optimal capacity for both irrigation needs and water basin is calculated to be 51 million m3.

box-bag-d.h-.jpg — *Project Management Board leaders speak at the meeting.*

It is known that the area of reforestation is over 1,800 hectares, with a total cost of nearly 177 billion VND. The province plans to complete reforestation by 2025, at the same time as the lake construction project ends. Planting an additional 1,800 hectares of forest will increase the green cover of Binh Thuan...

At the press conference, central and local press agencies had many questions related to the project, such as scale, construction location, forest exploitation plan, replacement forest planting, environmental impact assessment, irrigation capacity to support the lakes downstream of Ka Pet Lake or whether it is necessary to "sacrifice" more than 600 hectares of forest to build an irrigation lake... After listening to the provincial leaders and related departments, branches and units answer the above contents, most reporters agreed with the response content.

dsc_5548(1).jpg — *A press representative asked a question.*

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai emphasized that deforestation will reduce groundwater. However, building a lake is also a form of surface water accumulation, increasing groundwater levels. When completed, the project will provide irrigation water for about 7,762 hectares of agricultural land in Ham Thuan Nam district; provide raw water for Ham Kiem II industrial park 2.63 million ^m3 /year; create a raw water source for the daily life of about 120,000 people in Ham Thuan Nam district and Phan Thiet city... At the same time, it will prevent and control floods and improve the environment, regulate water for the downstream area of Ham Thuan Nam district and Binh Thuan province; increase flow in the dry season, contributing to improving the ecological environment of the downstream area, especially the section through Phan Thiet city, contributing to the development of tourism and services in the province.

*Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Hai spoke at the press conference.*

Concluding the press conference, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assessed that the relevant departments, branches and units had provided sufficient information, basically answering the reporters' questions. The press agencies were basically satisfied and agreed with the answers on the investment policy to implement the Ka Pet reservoir project. Through the press conference, the provincial leaders hoped that the reporters would share truthful, thorough and constructive information about the project, contributing to the socio-economic development of Binh Thuan province.

Previously, on September 4, 2023, an online newspaper published an article titled “A forest of more than 600 hectares is about to be destroyed to make an irrigation lake”. When the article was published, there were many conflicting opinions about the Ka Pet Reservoir project. This article used a number of images and information that made readers have incorrect thoughts and assessments about a number of policies of the Party, the State and the implementation process of Binh Thuan province.

KIEU HANG, PHOTOGRAPHY DINH HOA.

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