Regarding this issue, Gia Lai Newspaper and Radio and Television reporter had an interview with Mr. Vu Ngoc An - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment.

* What is the current status of irrigation infrastructure and lake and dam management in Gia Lai , sir?

Mr. Vu Ngoc An - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment. Photo: NVCC
- Gia Lai province currently has 283 reservoirs with a total capacity of about 1,275 million m³, along with 486 dams and 53 hydroelectric lakes with a total capacity of nearly 2,700 MW. This is an important irrigation infrastructure system, playing an essential role in providing irrigation water for more than 270 thousand hectares of agricultural land each year. In addition, these projects also serve many other purposes such as supplying domestic water, generating electricity, aquaculture and meeting industrial production needs.
In particular, thanks to large dams such as Ayun Ha, Ia Mor, Dinh Binh, Dong Mit, Nui Mot, etc., the province has proactively provided water for irrigation of crops, thereby maintaining the annual rice, vegetable and industrial crop growing areas. Many projects also play a role in regulating local floods, providing water for livestock and aquaculture, and supporting people's lives, making an important contribution to local socio-economic development.
However, many of the projects have been built for a long time and are now in a state of serious disrepair. Some items such as dam roofs have collapsed, spillways and water intakes are damaged, causing many difficulties for operations, especially during the rainy season. In addition, many small dams managed by local authorities do not have design documents, causing difficulties in maintenance, repair and database construction. In addition, management and operation capacity at the grassroots level is limited, leading to improper exploitation of technical procedures, posing potential safety risks.

Ayun Ha irrigation reservoir serves to irrigate more than 13,500 hectares of agricultural land, produces two rice crops in Phu Thien, Ia Pa, Ayun Pa, generates electricity and serves a number of industrial production facilities. **Photo: Pham Quy**

* What is the reason why water supply capacity in the West is limited?

- Due to geographical and historical factors, the irrigation infrastructure between the Eastern and Western regions of the province still has many differences. The Eastern region (formerly belonging to Binh Dinh province) was planned and invested in a dam system quite early, with a synchronous canal network, suitable for flat terrain and concentrated population, so it is very favorable for irrigation development.
On the contrary, the Western region (formerly Gia Lai) faces many difficulties due to complex mountainous terrain, steep slopes, sparse population, long dry season and scattered, unstable surface water sources. In addition, investment resources for irrigation here are limited. Therefore, the water supply capacity in the West is still not able to meet production needs, especially in the dry season - a time when water shortages often occur.

* So what is the province's direction to improve the irrigation system in the western region?

- The province has identified this as a key area that needs priority investment in the period 2026 - 2030. A number of large irrigation projects have been planned, such as: Ea Thul project, Ayun Thuong - Dak Po To water transfer system, along with many repair items, anti-erosion, and modernization of irrigation systems. In addition, the province also promotes the application of water-saving irrigation technology, strengthens reservoir linkages, and invests in canals suitable for the terrain. The goal is to gradually narrow the gap between regions, ensuring stable water supply for production and daily life.

* What solutions will the province implement to overcome the degradation of lakes and dams?

- In the immediate future, the province will review and evaluate the current status of the entire project to create a priority list for repairs based on the level of urgency and capital mobilization capacity. Resources for implementation will be combined from local and central budgets, national target programs, climate change response capital and socialization. In addition, the province will promote the application of technology for monitoring, forecasting hydrometeorology, regulating reservoirs; strengthen training for operating teams, periodic maintenance and community propaganda to ensure safety during the rainy and stormy season.
The Department of Agriculture and the province have also proactively approached diverse sources of capital for reservoir, irrigation and canal projects; encouraged socialized investment in irrigation. The province has recommended that the Central Government complete the decentralized management mechanism and supplement the regular budget for maintenance and repair of key dams, especially projects to protect downstream areas.
The province also proposed that the Central Government have a separate mechanism for large-scale irrigation and water supply projects in arid areas; invest in a centralized clean water supply system in rural areas; and provide technical support and human resource training in the application of monitoring, operation, regulation, and meteorological forecasting technology, etc., towards modern, effective, and safe irrigation management.

* Thank you!

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nang-cap-he-thong-thuy-loi-phuc-vu-san-xuat-ben-vung-post565750.html

Comment (0)