Bringing water back to the fields

LAO CAI Nearly 500 irrigation works have been damaged by floods. The government and people are trying to implement many solutions to bring irrigation water back to the fields.

Irrigation system paralyzed after flood

The prolonged floods, especially due to the impact of storms No. 10 and 11, have caused severe damage to the infrastructure and agricultural production in Lao Cai province. In particular, the irrigation system has been severely damaged.

As the winter-spring crop season approaches, authorities at all levels, functional agencies and people of Lao Cai province are racing against time, mobilizing all resources to overcome the consequences, making efforts to clear the waterways, and ensuring irrigation water for production.

Many irrigation works were seriously damaged by floods. Photo: Thanh Tien.

As one of the key food production areas of the province, Vo Lao commune suffered severe consequences when the water source for irrigation production was almost entirely dependent on the irrigation system. The fierce flood caused landslides and seriously buried many canals.

According to statistics from the People's Committee of Vo Lao commune, the entire commune has up to 11 irrigation works severely damaged, with estimated losses of more than 1 billion VND. Many sections of water canals were eroded, broken or completely buried under thick layers of mud from the hillsides.

In Ngau 2 village, more than 60 households and about 16 hectares of agricultural land were affected by floods from the rising Vo Lao stream, which submerged most of the rice fields. The irrigation canal system of more than 2,000 meters long serving irrigation and aquaculture in the village was almost paralyzed.

Mr. Lu Van Them, Head of Ngau 2 village, said: "Immediately after the flood receded, we mobilized people to check, clean, and promptly overcome the consequences, proactively check the flow, detect leaks, and make efforts to protect the canals from the risk of further damage."

Dozens of irrigation works in Vo Lao commune were affected by floods. Photo: Thanh Tien.

According to Mr. Dao Quang Dong, an official of the Economic Department of Vo Lao Commune, at the locations where irrigation canals were broken, the commune directed the irrigation team to use HDPE plastic pipes as temporary replacements. For works with sediment deposits, dredging and clearing were carried out to ensure irrigation water for the commune's winter crop areas.

Nearly 500 large and small irrigation works damaged

Not only Vo Lao, the circulation of storm No. 10 has caused severe damage to the irrigation system throughout Lao Cai province. Preliminary statistics show that the whole province has 488 damaged irrigation works, with the total damage value of about 168 billion VND. Storm No. 10 alone has damaged 424 irrigation works and 16 irrigation pumping stations.

Many solid structures could not withstand the devastation of natural disasters. In Au Lau ward, Doan Ket dam suffered serious landslides downstream at 8 points, with a total length of nearly 100 meters, directly threatening production and people's travel. In Nam Cuong ward, the entire irrigation canal serving agricultural production was deeply buried by mud. Tan Phu Company Limited mobilized maximum manpower to focus on dredging mud.

Many canals were buried by rocks and soil. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Ms. To Phuong Dung, Deputy Director of Tan Phu Company Limited (the irrigation management unit) said: “We mobilized all the company’s workers, as well as hired outside forces and machinery and equipment to urgently carry out the repair. At the same time, we prepared documents, made estimates and requested competent authorities to support funding for the restoration, ensuring irrigation water for local agricultural production.

Local forces participate in repairing the canal system to irrigate the winter-spring crop. Photo: Thanh Tien.

According to the Lao Cai Department of Agriculture and Environment, the total estimated capital needed to completely repair irrigation works in the whole province is up to more than 180 billion VND. The province proposed the central budget to support more than 160 billion VND; the rest will be mobilized from the budget for natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue and local budget sources.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/dua-nuoc-tro-lai-cac-canh-dong-d780931.html