Improve drainage capacity, reduce the risk of flooding

With a total investment of over VND4,815 billion, the Vinh Phuc Province Water Resources and Flood Management Project has basically completed its items. Some works under the project, after being put into trial operation, have contributed to improving drainage efficiency and reducing the risk of flooding in many localities in the province.

The modern pumping system at Nguyet Duc - Yen Phuong Pumping Station, part of the Provincial Water Resources and Flood Management Project, operates effectively, minimizing flooding in the province. Photo: Nguyen Luong

The Vinh Phuc Water Resources and Flood Management Project is a key project of the province with the goal of enhancing flood and inundation prevention capacity, minimizing impacts caused by natural disasters; controlling flood risks through flood regulation, while increasing the capacity to drain, store water and regulate the Phan and Ca Lo river systems.

The project contributes to improving the ecological environment and forming regulating lakes, in accordance with the general planning of Vinh Phuc urban construction to 2030, with a vision to 2050.

The Water Resources and Flood Management Project has a total investment of more than VND 4,815 billion, of which the loan from the World Bank is VND 2,896.6 billion, the province's counterpart capital is more than VND 1,922 billion; the project disbursement rate by the end of June 2024 is VND 3,911 billion, of which the province's counterpart capital disbursement rate is VND 1,679 billion (reaching 87.3%).

The project is implemented with 3 components including flood management; water quality management; implementation support, institutional strengthening and technical assistance.

In which, component 1 of the project includes construction of the Kim Xa, Ngu Kien, Nguyet Duc - Yen Phuong pumping stations and the suction, discharge and power supply canal systems; dredging of 4 rivers in Binh Xuyen district, construction of Ton Bridge, Sat Bridge and Dong Mong mud dump.

Component 2 includes a wastewater collection and treatment system in 3 towns: Tam Hong (Yen Lac), Tho Tang (Vinh Tuong) and Huong Canh (Binh Xuyen); 14 decentralized wastewater treatment points in densely populated areas along the Phan River.

According to information from the Project Management Board using foreign loans (VPMO), the project investor, the items of component 1 and component 2 of the project have been basically completed, the works are in the process of trial operation for acceptance and handover of the works.

Component 3 of the project includes the following tasks: Project implementation support; consulting services; bidding support; construction supervision; environmental supervision; project implementation supervision and evaluation; early flood warning handbook; establishing operating procedures and water resource management according to river basins.

Currently, component 3 of the project has only 2 unfinished tasks: the early flood warning handbook and the establishment of operating procedures and water resource management according to river basins, which are in the process of being reviewed and submitted for approval.

According to VPMO, the trial operation of the works under the Water Resources and Flood Management Project showed that the flood and inundation prevention capacity within the project's operating area reached about 712 km2. The effectiveness of the project was verified through storms No. 2 and No. 3 in 2024.

With the pumping stations put into trial operation, from the beginning of May to September 20, the works have helped drain the total amount of water into the Red River and Pho Day River reaching nearly 100 million m3, contributing to reducing the risk of flooding, ensuring stable life and production and business for people in the province.

In addition to increasing drainage capacity, the project system also stores about 7.5 million m3 of water to regulate the Phan and Ca Lo rivers, improving the ecological environment through regulating water sources and wastewater collection and treatment systems.

Regarding the project quality, according to the VPMO representative, the project was assessed by the World Bank to have achieved 4/5 of the project's target indicators, including: The rate of people directly benefiting from the project reached 495.5 thousand people/376 ​​thousand people as required; the rate of women benefiting from the project reached 50.1%/50% as required; the rate of people benefiting from flood management reached 395.5 thousand people/255.1 thousand people as required; the total area protected from flooding by the project was 712 km2, exceeding the required area by 31.8%.

Currently, only the proportion of people benefiting from the project's wastewater treatment has reached 100,000 people/120.9 thousand people, not meeting the requirements.

To improve drainage capacity, minimize the risk of flooding, and contribute to improving the province's ecological environment in a sustainable manner, VPMO is coordinating with relevant sectors and units to continue reviewing, removing difficulties and obstacles, and urging contractors to speed up the implementation of the remaining items of the project.

Currently, VPMO is recruiting independent inspection consultants to inspect the quality of the entire construction system according to regulations before accepting the overall completion of all construction items.

In the immediate future, to overcome some problems with the projects damaged after the recent storm No. 3, VPMO has hired an independent construction quality inspection consultant, belonging to the Institute of Water Resources ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ) to comprehensively assess the contents related to the damage, determine the causes and responsibilities of the parties involved, recommend appropriate construction solutions, ensure the project operates stably, sustainably, and maximizes investment efficiency.

In addition, VPMO assigned the contractor to promptly fix construction problems, ensure construction quality according to design, and complete the project according to contract commitments.

According to plan, in the first half of 2025, the Provincial Water Resources and Flood Management Project will be completed and handed over for use.

Hoang Son

Source: https://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/117804/Nang-cao-nang-luc-tieu-thoat-nuoc-giam-thieu-nguy-co-ngap-ung