Many reservoirs in Nghe An have dried up

Trang Den Reservoir, Nam Hung Commune, Nam Dan District, the reservoir has run out of water. Photo: Van Truong (taken on May 15)

Present at Trang Den reservoir, Nam Hung commune, Nam Dan district, the reservoir bed was dry. Mr. Le Van Manh - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: The whole commune has 15 reservoirs irrigating 95 hectares of summer-autumn rice, currently the water level only reaches 20-30% of capacity, of which Trang Den reservoir is the largest irrigating 40 hectares of rice, now only over 25% of water capacity, so it is very difficult to produce the summer-autumn crop. Currently, the commune has reviewed and planned to convert 15 hectares of areas with difficult water sources to grow crops.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh The - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam Dan district said: The whole district has 69 large and small reservoirs, serving over 1,000 hectares of rice, however, currently most of the reservoirs only reach 20-30% of capacity, of which some reservoirs are only enough for 2-3 water openings. Facing the risk of water shortage for summer-autumn rice in the reservoir area, the district has converted 200 hectares of rice in areas that cannot be planted to grow other crops. For reservoirs that are capable of irrigating the summer-autumn rice area, the district directs communes to open water economically and irrigate scientifically.

Also in the same situation, Yen Thanh district currently has many reservoirs in a state of water withdrawal. Observing at Khe Cay lake, Kim Thanh commune (Yen Thanh), the lake bed is exposed, buffaloes and cows come to the middle of the lake to eat grass. Ms. Nguyen Thi Soa in Kim Thanh commune said: With the current water level being depleted, it will be very difficult to produce summer-autumn rice, if it does not rain, we may have to switch from rice to growing other crops.

A representative of the People's Committee of Kim Thanh commune said: This summer-autumn crop, the commune planted over 140 hectares of rice, however, the water source is very difficult because the water level of 5 reservoirs in the area only reaches 30% of capacity such as Luoc and Nuoc Vang lakes... According to the plan, the commune will have to convert 10-12 hectares of rice land to grow crops.

Khe Cay Lake, Kim Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh) has been dry for many months. Photo: Van Truong

Ve Vung reservoir, also located in Kim Thanh commune, has a capacity of 22 million ^{m3 of} water, irrigating over 500 hectares of rice in 7 communes of Yen Thanh district, but now only has nearly 30% of its capacity left. Currently, in the land preparation stage, irrigation officers are opening the water of Ve Vung reservoir for about 8-10 days/period, and at the same time, asking people to use water economically for summer-autumn rice production.

According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Thanh district, this summer-autumn crop, Yen Thanh district planted over 12,700 hectares of rice, of which the reservoir area alone has an area of ​​nearly 3,000 hectares.

The district has over 200 reservoirs, currently the water level is only 30 - 50% of capacity, many of which have run out of water. The district is reviewing the water balance and planning to convert over 100 hectares of areas with difficulty in watering rice to growing crops. The communes are directed to mobilize human resources to dredge canals and maintain the banks of the fields right from the beginning of the season to avoid water loss.

Some locations in Khe Cay Lake have cracked. Photo: Van Truong

According to the Department of Irrigation, up to now, Nghe An has 1,061 reservoirs, of which 713 are managed by local authorities and 29 are managed by Irrigation LLCs. Currently, many large reservoirs in the area are running out of water, such as Xuan Duong Lake in Dien Phu Commune (Dien Chau) with a capacity of 11 million ^m3 of water, now only nearly 40% of its capacity remains...

Ve Vung reservoir in Kim Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district has dried up, buffaloes and cows have come to the middle of the lake to graze. Photo: Van Truong

To ensure water for summer-autumn rice irrigation in the reservoir area, Nghe An Irrigation Department has proposed the following solutions: Requiring localities to review the water source situation, develop drought-prevention irrigation plans for each area and each project, strictly manage water sources, prevent leakage and loss, and use water resources economically and effectively.

Hoa Son reservoir, Do Luong district has only over 10% water capacity left. Photo: Van Truong

Source: https://baonghean.vn/nhieu-ho-chua-o-nghe-an-can-tro-day-post289377.html