The reason why the 1,000 billion VND reservoir in Ninh Thuan is behind schedule

TPO - The Song Than Reservoir in Ninh Thuan province started construction in July 2018 and was scheduled to be completed in 2022, but has yet to come into operation.

On March 18th, Mr. Le Xuan Toan, Deputy Director of the Investment, Construction and Land Development Project Management Board of Ninh Thuan province, stated that Package No. 22, the most important package of the Song Than water reservoir project in Hoa Son commune, Ninh Son district, Ninh Thuan province, has not met the committed terms.

This is the most important package of this irrigation project, including: construction of earth dams, concrete dams, electrical systems for operation and construction management, equipment and auxiliary items serving the construction of earth dams and concrete dams. According to Mr. Toan, there are many reasons for the delay, including the capacity of the construction contractors.

The Song Than Reservoir is a key project of Ninh Thuan province.

According to records, the Song Than reservoir project has an investment capital of over 1,000 billion VND, sourced from government bonds, central and local funds, and is managed by the Ninh Thuan Provincial Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Agricultural and Rural Development Projects (now the Ninh Thuan Provincial Project Management Board for Investment, Construction and Land Development).

This is a key irrigation project aimed at responding to drought and climate change, and has the second largest designed capacity among the 23 existing reservoirs in Ninh Thuan province. Once operational, the Song Than reservoir will provide a stable water supply for agricultural production on 4,500 hectares of cultivated land and supply water for domestic use to over 20,000 households. It will also regulate water levels to meet the irrigation, production, and domestic needs of many communes in the southern part of Ninh Thuan province.

According to the plan, the project was scheduled to be implemented from 2018-2022, but during implementation, it was affected by several factors that impacted progress and capital disbursement, such as land conversion, compensation for land clearance, and the project was also implemented during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with social distancing leading to labor shortages and difficulties in mobilizing construction equipment.

Package No. 22, the most important part of the Song Than reservoir project, is behind schedule.

To ensure investment efficiency and project progress, Ninh Thuan province agreed to adjust the capital structure and extend the implementation period from 2018-2022 to 2018-2024, but the project has still not been completed and put into operation.

According to the Ninh Thuan Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board, the other contract packages have basically completed their items. The construction unit is currently completing auxiliary works and conducting trial runs of the flood discharge gate systems, diversion culverts, water intake culverts, and electrical systems to meet the conditions for acceptance and handover for use before the minor flood season.

Phung Quang - Tien Dat