Floods swept away the dam, leaving the people of Piêng Cu anxious about the upcoming spring planting season.

As the year draws to a close, the people of Pieng Cu village, Tien Phong commune (formerly Que Phong district), are anxiously awaiting news that over 7 hectares of rice paddies will lack irrigation water for the 2025 spring crop. This stems from the fact that the Tat Bai dam – the village's only irrigation facility – has been severely damaged by a major flood.

The Tat Bai dam on the Nam Nien stream was swept away by floods on May 29. Photo: Quang An

According to Mr. Lo Van Thuy, head of Pieng Cu village in Tien Phong commune, the village has over 10 hectares of rice paddy land, but currently 7.3 hectares are facing a serious water shortage risk for the upcoming spring crop. The reason is that the Tat Bai dam on the Nam Nien stream was severely damaged by floods at the end of July, caused by Typhoon No. 3. The dam's embankment was washed away, disrupting the water flow and preventing water from reaching the fields.

The metal pipeline system that supplied water to the fields, which was the "lifeline" for 142 households, was also severed by the floodwaters and lies scattered haphazardly in the stream. Photo: Xuan Hoang

"If the dam isn't repaired in time, the villagers will face great difficulties. A lack of water means a crop failure, directly affecting food security and the livelihoods of the entire village," Mr. Thuy said worriedly. Currently, the people are hoping for assistance in repairing the structure to ensure spring crop production.

Mr. Lo Van Thuy, head of Pieng Cu village, hopes the government will soon repair the Tat Bai dam so that the villagers can resume rice cultivation. Photo: Quang An

Leading us over 7 kilometers through the forest to the Tat Bai dam, Mr. Thuy pointed to the structure, now just a pile of broken concrete. Nearly half of the dam's structure had been swept away by the flood, and the remaining part had suffered severe erosion, posing a risk of collapse at any moment.

The metal pipeline system that supplied water to the fields – the "lifeline" for 142 households – was also severed by the floodwaters. With no pipeline left, water now flows freely along the streams, leaving the fields dry and cracked, waiting for water to return.

A section of water pipeline was severed into many pieces by the flood. Photo: Quang An

Ms. Vi Thi Duyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tien Phong commune, said: Immediately after receiving feedback from Pieng Cu village about the severe damage to the Tat Bai dam after the flood, the commune organized a field inspection and prepared a dossier requesting the province to provide financial support for repairs, with a total proposed amount of approximately 3 billion VND. However, to date, the locality has not received any support.

Water is supplied to the rice fields entirely through a pipe system, so temporary solutions are not possible. Photo: Quang An

According to Ms. Duyen, if the dam is not repaired in time, the entire rice paddy area of ​​the village – including 7.3 hectares that depend entirely on water from the dam – will be unusable for planting in the upcoming spring season. “The dam is located more than 7 km from the rice paddies, and the water is supplied entirely through a pipe system, so temporary repairs are impossible. The people are very worried and hope for prompt investment in repairs,” Ms. Duyen said.

The more than 7-hectare rice field in Piêng Cu village depends entirely on the water supply from the Tạt Bái dam; if the problem isn't fixed in time, there will be no water for production next spring. Photo: Xuân Hoàng

Pieng Cu village is a resettlement area for the Hua Na Hydropower Plant, with 142 households primarily relying on rice cultivation and the harvesting of non-timber forest products. The damage to the Tat Bai dam threatens the livelihoods of the entire community. The residents hope that relevant authorities will provide timely support to repair the dam, ensuring a successful spring crop and long-term stability in their lives.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/lu-cuon-troi-dap-nuoc-nguoi-dan-pieng-cu-thap-thom-truc-vu-xuan-toi-10314842.html