Flexible operation of Cai Lon and Cai Be culvert clusters to prevent flooding

On November 7, Mr. Nguyen Huynh Trung, Head of the Irrigation Sub-Department of An Giang province, said that the province had announced the closure of the Cai Lon - Cai Be sluice and Xeo Ro sluice in An Bien and Binh An communes to support drainage and prevent flooding caused by high tides and the impact of storm No. 13.

Cai Lon Bridge project in Go Quao commune ( An Giang ) is under construction. Photo: Le Huy Hai/VNA

Accordingly, from November 6 to 10, the relevant units will operate and close a maximum of 11 Cai Lon sluice gates; Cai Be sluice will close 2 sluice gates and Xeo Ro sluice will close when requested. To protect agricultural production and aquaculture of the people, An Giang province requests the People's Committees of communes and wards located downstream of the project (sea side) to support and guide people to reinforce embankments at vulnerable points, close water intake ditch gates when the tide rises, and minimize the situation of bank overflow and local flooding. People living along Cai Lon and Cai Be rivers, Xeo Ro - Can Gao canal are advised to raise their belongings, move their assets and livestock to safe places during the sluice operation. Water vehicles traveling through the above sluice must pay attention to the signaling system (signs, lights, sounds) and instruct the regulatory forces at the scene to ensure safety of inland waterway traffic.

According to the forecast of the Southern Institute of Water Resources , the impact of the storm combined with the Southwest monsoon and the high tide in November has caused the water level in the Cai Lon estuary to reach its highest peak since the beginning of the flood season, forecast to exceed the alarm level III by 20-25cm. This tide coincides with the high tide in the East Sea, which can cause the water level to rise by 10-30cm, causing the risk of flooding, overflowing embankments, affecting agricultural production and aquaculture in low-lying areas in the communes of An Minh, An Bien, Dong Hoa, Vinh Thuan, Vinh Binh (An Giang province).

In response to the above situation, the Southern Irrigation Exploitation Company Limited issued Notice No. 90 dated November 3, 2025 on the operation of the Cai Lon, Cai Be and Xeo Ro sluices to support drainage and reduce flooding caused by high tides, inland floods and the circulation of storm Kalmaegi. At the same time, the Southern Maritime and Waterways Sub-Department also issued Notice No. 1392 on restricting inland waterway traffic on the Cai Lon, Cai Be rivers and the Tan Bang - Can Gao canal to ensure safety for people and vehicles during the operation of the project.

The leader of the Southern Irrigation Exploitation One Member Co., Ltd. also said that to ensure production and people's safety, the unit has closely coordinated with the Standing Office of the Civil Defense Committee of An Giang Province, the Provincial Irrigation Sub-Department and localities in the project area to operate the sluice system. The units monitor the water level, promptly inform people, organizations and businesses to proactively respond, especially in coastal communes and downstream areas of the project.

Statistics of localities in the Cai Lon - Cai Be project area are in the transitional season, with the total area of ​​cultivation and aquaculture reaching the planned high. In particular, An Giang province (part of the old Kien Giang) has completed harvesting more than 105,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice in 2025, with an average yield of 5.62 tons/ha. Autumn-winter rice has been planted on 34,000 hectares, and more than 27,500 hectares are being harvested. The aquaculture area reached 119,492 hectares, exceeding 101% of the plan, mainly shrimp farming in ponds and fields.

"The flexible operation of the Cai Lon - Cai Be sluice cluster to respond to storms combined with high tides demonstrates the close and proactive coordination between specialized agencies and localities. This is also a practical test for the system in adverse meteorological and hydrological conditions, and at the same time an important premise towards the goal of smart operation, automating water resource management in the downstream of the Cai Lon - Cai Be River, serving the sustainable development of agricultural production, aquaculture and people's livelihoods", Deputy General Director of Southern Irrigation Exploitation Company Limited Le Tu Do shared.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/linh-hoat-van-hanh-cum-cong-cai-lon-cai-be-chong-ngapung-20251107152300673.htm