Management and operation of irrigation works

Identifying the important role of the irrigation system in agricultural production, natural disaster prevention and socio-economic development, the Provincial People's Committee has directed the Department of Agriculture and Environment and localities to effectively manage and operate irrigation works, ensuring irrigation water sources for production and flood drainage.

Employees of Son La Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited, dredging water canals at Phieng Nghe village, Chieng An ward.

The province has about 2,697 irrigation works, including 110 reservoirs, 1,149 dams, 190 sluices and water intakes, with a total canal length of more than 3,183 km, ensuring irrigation for 34,634 hectares of agricultural land and supporting drainage for more than 64,500 hectares of rural and urban areas. Large lakes such as Ban Mong, Tien Phong, and Chieng Dong serve production, regulate water flow, prevent floods, and improve soil.

Mr. Le Xuan Hung, Deputy Head of the Provincial Irrigation and Water Resources Sub-Department, said: The Sub-Department has advised the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Environment to deploy many solutions to protect irrigation works, focusing on applying digital technology . Currently, 35 automatic rain gauge stations have been installed; 2 water level measuring stations; 2 meteorological observation stations and cameras to monitor large lakes, such as Mong and Tien Phong villages; digital maps have been built to manage and operate works, update data in real time, support operations, warn of natural disasters and help the province regulate water resources and discharge floods promptly.

In addition, the province's irrigation management is clearly decentralized. In particular, the Department of Agriculture and Environment manages large and medium-sized projects, Son La Irrigation Management and Exploitation Company Limited manages 2,508 projects through 12 branches, along with 1,401 grassroots irrigation teams, with more than 3,400 members operating and maintaining on-site. The units focus on protecting projects after floods, performing periodic repairs and mobilizing the community to participate in repairing and protecting the irrigation system. Projects serving agriculture, as well as providing water for daily life, industry and natural disaster prevention, have been given priority in applying the system of management and monitoring of water levels at reservoirs.

To ensure the operation of irrigation works, Son La Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited has directed its branches to coordinate with local authorities and the community to review, propose new construction, repair works, and dredge ditches to ensure a stable water source for production. Mr. Dinh Van Bich, Director of Phu Yen Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Branch, said: In early 2025, the Branch coordinated with communes to review works, prepare repair estimates to report to Son La Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited for funding allocation. By the end of August, over 100 works had been repaired, with a total cost of more than 10 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong, Deputy Director of Son La Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited, said: In the last months of 2025, the Company will promote the dissemination of the Law on Irrigation, guiding documents, decrees of the Government and related policies; closely coordinate with units and grassroots irrigation teams to manage and operate water supply for agriculture and daily life, strengthen inspection and handle violations of construction safety corridors. Together with the People's Committees of communes and village management boards, review the water supply area in 2026, make a list of maintenance and repair and send it to the Department of Agriculture and Environment for appraisal and submit it to the Provincial People's Committee for approval. At the same time, organize professional training for organizations and individuals managing and exploiting irrigation works. Every year, coordinate with localities to launch the "doing irrigation" movement to encourage people to participate in dredging, repairing and maintaining the system.

With the synchronous participation of functional sectors, localities and people in the management and operation of the irrigation system, it helps farmers in the province to be proactive in production, expand cultivated area and promote sustainable agricultural development.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/quan-ly-van-hanh-cac-cong-trinh-thuy-loi-vpn3dX9HR.html