When will Trang village stop being flooded every time it rains?

Since the Vinh Ha hydropower project came into operation, the lives of people in Ban Trang, Thuong Ha commune have been turned upside down. Every year, during the rainy season, flooding has become a constant fear, making it impossible for people here to live in peace.

Flood scene in Ban Trang during the rainy season.

After the flood, Mr. Ly Van Tien, a long-time resident of Ban Trang, still did not dare to move his belongings home because he heard the weather forecast that the rain would not stop.

Mr. Tien said: The rain in early August flooded up to the table, and the rain in September flooded up to the tin roof. Many houses did not have time to evacuate, and when the water rose, they had to go from the tin roof to the boat. Previously, only historic floods caused flooding, but now almost all heavy rains cause flooding. Since the floods at the end of last year, people have had to flee the flood 2-3 times a year, greatly affecting their lives.

People travel by boat on the inter-village road.

Ban Trang is located on the right bank of the Chay River, about 10 kilometers from Highway 70. This is a low-lying area where Dien stream flows into the Chay River.

According to local people, the main reason why Ban Trang is often submerged in floodwaters is because the calculation and site clearance work for the Vinh Ha hydropower reservoir area has not been fully carried out. The project investor did not clearly define the boundary of the rising water level during the rainy season, leading to many households in the area being affected when the water rises but not being subject to site clearance.

Ban Trang residents evacuate their properties from flooded areas.

Every time there is heavy rain, water from upstream flows to meet Vinh Ha hydroelectric dam, blocking the flow, causing the water level of Chay river to rise. The flood water cannot drain in time and flows back into Dien stream, causing widespread flooding.

People in Ban Trang have to flee floods 2-3 times a year with the fear of loss, damage to property and disruption to their lives.

Houses collapsed and walls cracked due to flooding.

Flooding not only causes severe damage to property but also makes people's lives more miserable. Houses are submerged, farmland is eroded, children cannot go to school.

Mr. Dang Van Yen lamented: Every time the flood comes, the water level is 1.5 to 2 meters high, so people have to run up to the hills to stay temporarily. All the houses are flooded, and it is very difficult to cook on the hills.

The consequences of flooding also have a major impact on the local economy as infrastructure and roads are damaged. People have to constantly repair the damage but still cannot escape the vicious cycle of running away from the flood every time it rains.

The water marks were still visible after many days of receding water.

Frustrated by this situation, the people of Ban Trang have petitioned the local government, hoping to have the residential area planned or relocated to a higher location to ensure safety. However, to date, these petitions have not been thoroughly resolved.

Mr. Ly Van Ta - Commander of the Military Command of Thuong Ha Commune said: Every time there is a flood, we mobilize forces to support people to move their assets to a safe place, however, it is not good to keep running away from the flood like this. In the long term, people really hope to have higher land planned for peace of mind.

The assets of the households in the village are stored on the rooftop of a household.

After each flood, people are busy cleaning their houses and repairing the damage. Living with the flood, no one wants to buy new furniture for their house. The young people in the village who work as workers in industrial zones to earn extra income are always worried about their hometown being flooded, so during the flood season, they do not dare to go far to work.

The people here all hope that one day they will be moved to a safe place, so that they will no longer have to live in fear every time it rains. The cooperation of the hydropower investor and the local government in planning a safer land location for the people here will be a long-term solution so that people can work, produce and build a stable life with peace of mind.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ban-trang-bao-gio-het-canh-cu-mua-la-ngap-post885379.html