Dike watchtower - frontline 'fortress' against floods

(PLVN) - Every rainy and stormy season, people living along rivers and dikes are constantly worried about the danger of floods. In the midst of harsh nature, the dike watchtower silently plays the role of a frontline "fortress", making an important contribution to protecting the safety of people's lives and property.

An indispensable 'link' in flood prevention and control

In the North, the rainy and stormy season usually starts in June and lasts until around October, with the peak falling from July to September. This is the period of strong activity of storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea, which can easily bring heavy rain, flash floods, landslides and the risk of dike failures in key areas.

Dike watch stations are solid structures built at key points along the dike line, to serve as a place to watch, observe, command and respond to situations that occur during the flood season. This is not only a temporary residence for the dike watch force but also a center for information, communication and coordination of on-site rescue when an incident occurs.

During the flood season, the dike watchtower helps the on-duty personnel monitor the water level, detect early dangerous phenomena such as leakage, landslides, extrusion, bank breakage, etc. and notify the relevant authorities to promptly take action. Thanks to this, many risks of dike safety have been prevented from the beginning, limiting damage and ensuring safety for downstream areas.

Effective management and operation of dike watch stations, accordingly, helps proactively prevent natural disasters and related incidents, contributing to minimizing damage and ensuring safety for people in affected areas.

Mr. Khien hopes that the competent authorities will promptly arrange some new equipment and supplies to be ready to respond during the flood season.

Talking to reporters of the Vietnam Law Newspaper, Mr. Tran Van Khien (born in 1957), Deputy Head of Thinh Lien Dike Guard Station, Phu Dong Commune, Gia Lam District ( Hanoi ) said that he has been a "guard" for nearly 30 years.

According to him, the dike watchtower is an indispensable link in flood prevention and control work. Every time the rainy and stormy season comes, the People's Committee at the commune level will arrange forces to keep a close watch, and at the same time mobilize the people to participate in protecting the dike. Any unusual developments are promptly reported to the Commune Disaster Prevention Command for early handling.

As a resident of Thinh Lien village, Mr. Khien believes that in order for the dike watchtower to be effective during flood season, the whole community needs to "join hands" with the government.

Mr. Nguyen Nhu Hanh (born in 1957, residing in Tri Phuong commune, Tien Du district, Bac Ninh province) shared: “My house is located right next to the foot of the dike, so since I was a child, I clearly understood how dangerous it is when floods come. Every time the guard post has someone on duty, the people feel much more secure. When the commune mobilizes me to check the dike, I am always ready to participate.”

Commune People's Committee plays a central role

The leaders of the People's Committee at the commune level are the direct command force in the management and operation of the dike watchtower. The People's Committee of the commune is responsible for managing, protecting and regularly maintaining the dike watchtower, ensuring that the facilities are qualified to serve the task of flood prevention and control. At the same time, the commune government establishes and mobilizes local dike watchtower forces, such as militia and self-defense forces, and disaster prevention and control shock forces, to be on duty 24/7 during peak days.

The Commune People's Committee also presides over organizing inspections and patrols of the dike system, early detection of incidents, organizing flood and storm prevention drills, and raising community awareness in participating in protecting dike works.

Ms. Dang Thi Mo - Vice Chairwoman of Tri Phuong Commune People's Committee, Tien Du District (Bac Ninh Province) said that the Commune People's Committee plays a central role in managing the activities of the dike watchtower. Every time the rainy and stormy season comes, the Commune People's Committee must have a specific plan for each situation and mobilize sufficient human and material resources to be ready to respond when necessary.

“In the upcoming storm season, the commune government needs to play a proactive, resolute and flexible role to ensure that the dike watchtower functions properly and effectively,” said Ms. Mo.

Sharing more with reporters of the Vietnam Law Newspaper, Deputy Head of Thinh Lien Dike Guard Station Tran Van Khien said that what he has been concerned about for many years is that the facilities at some dike guard stations have seriously degraded (such as Dong Vien Dike Guard Station, Phu Dong Dike Guard Station...) and have not been renovated or upgraded. Some tools and equipment at the stations are old and broken, and have not been arranged in a timely manner; the electricity and water bills are all paid by the "persons on duty" without any support from the authorities...

Images recorded by reporters at some dike guard posts in Gia Lam district (Hanoi) along the Duong River:

Yen Vien Town dike guard post is locked and the doors have peeled off due to harsh weather.

Cong Thon dike guard station, Yen Vien commune.

Phu Dong Inn was also in disrepair, with broken windows and a collapsed ceiling.

Dong Yuan's guard post is dilapidated.

In Phu Dong commune, the dike guard post in village 01 (formerly Trung Mau commune) is a place for people to store things for selling drinks, inside there are tables, chairs and plastic cups.

Deputy Head of Thinh Lien Dike Guard Station, Phu Dong Commune, said that he always records the water level changes for monitoring by all levels of departments and agencies.

Nguyen Vu - To Van

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/diem-canh-de-phao-dai-tuyen-dau-chong-lu-post548977.html