Irrigation projects drag on, cost more and are wasteful

(PLVN) - Many irrigation projects with reservoir capacities ranging from approximately 100 million to over 200 million m3 have started construction but have incurred thousands of billions in capital, had to be extended for many years, and have yet to be completed. Why?

November 11, 2024 14:13

Canh Tang Reservoir Project ( Hoa Binh ) increased capital by more than 1,000 billion. (Photo: MC)

(PLVN) - Many irrigation projects with reservoir capacities ranging from approximately 100 million to over 200 million m3 have started construction but have incurred thousands of billions in capital, had to be extended for many years, and have yet to be completed. Why?

From the North, we can point out the Canh Tang Reservoir project (Hoa Binh) - a project with a capacity of 95 million m3, 10 times larger than West Lake (Hanoi) and 3 times larger than Dai Lai Lake ( Vinh Phuc ). Such a large scale means that the total investment for the construction and installation of the project is not small - more than 3,100 billion VND, approved in 2017, the Irrigation Construction Investment Management Board 1 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) is the investor.

The project was initially scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of 2022. However, due to some reasons, the total investment had to be adjusted from the approved figure to VND4,128 billion (an increase of more than VND1,000 billion). The completion date had to be extended to 2026.

“For this project, the province is facing difficulties in capital and has to wait for the allocation of resources from the central budget. The works under the authority of Department 1 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (key project) are still under construction and are expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The canal part of the project is expected to be completed in 2026,” said Mr. Le Hong Linh - Director of the Department of Construction Management (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

In the Central Highlands, we must mention the multi-purpose irrigation project - the Upper Krong Pach Reservoir (Dak Lak) with a capacity of 123 million m3. This project was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2009, with a value of 2,900 billion VND at that time. However, the project did not start construction until 2013. The total investment in phase I of the project was then "increased" from 2,900 billion VND to 4,421 billion VND.

After nearly 14 years of implementation, phase I of this project was completed at the end of last year. Currently, phase II is still underway.

The Ban Mong Reservoir Project (Nghe An) has not been completed after 15 years, causing a waste of investment resources.

The “peak” of delays, progress slippage, and waste of public investment is the large irrigation project in the Western region of Nghe An - Ban Mong Reservoir. The largest reservoir in Nghe An, with a capacity of more than 220 million m3 of water. This project started in 2010, with an initial capital of 3,744 billion VND, invested by the Irrigation Construction Investment Management Board 4 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

As mentioned projects, Ban Mong Reservoir was also interrupted for many years, and was only re-implemented in 2017, and the capital has also increased by more than 1,800 billion. The time has been extended to now 15 years but it is still unclear when water will be brought to the fields?

Speaking with PLVN, Director of the Department of Construction Management Le Hong Linh said that the work under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development here has been completed 96%, but in reality, it is stuck at the local level - mainly in the reservoir area and resettlement.

“After surveying and discussing with the locality, the parties agreed to make efforts to complete the project by 2025,” Director Linh affirmed.

Regarding this issue, on November 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued urgent dispatch No. 112/CD-TTg to Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and cities, requesting them to focus on resolving backlog projects, stop construction, urgently complete and put them into use to prevent waste and loss.

According to PLVN's source, it is expected that today - November 11, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep will chair a meeting to implement the above telegram, with the participation of Departments and Offices under the ministry such as the Department of Construction Management, Inspectorate, Department of Planning...

According to the direction in Official Dispatch 112/CD-TTg, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must report to the Prime Minister on the implementation status of works and projects in the entire sector, including the "addresses" that PLVN just mentioned, before November 30.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nhung-du-an-thuy-loi-keo-dai-le-the-doi-von-va-lang-phi-post531519.html