Increasing the operating flow of Binh Dien hydropower reservoir to cope with the upcoming rains

Implement response plan

According to the forecast of the provincial Hydrometeorological Station, due to the influence of cold air, from the night of November 12 to 17, the province will have heavy to very heavy rain on land. It is necessary to be on guard against tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong gusts of wind. The total rainfall is generally 250-500mm, in some places over 800mm. The offshore waters of the province will have strong winds of level 6, sometimes level 7, gusting to level 8-9, rough seas, waves from 2.5-4m high. In the face of bad weather, with forecasted rainfall of over 800mm in some places, localities and dam owners have deployed disaster response work.

Mr. Ho Trong Chan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nham Commune (A Luoi) said that through a review of the area, it was found that the whole commune has 180 households with about 720 people who are regularly affected by floods, storms, and landslides. The households are concentrated in areas with quite complex terrain in villages such as Ar Ba Nham, A Hua Pa E, Ar Keu Nham and Pi Ay 1, 2. Every year, during the rainy and stormy season, the commune conducts a review of houses at risk of being unsafe from natural disasters in order to proactively plan for relocation to safe locations or intermingle with the people and do a good job of "5 on-site" work.

A Luoi is a mountainous district with a terrain of many hills and streams. The District People's Committee has reviewed and updated a specific list of each household in residential areas at risk of flash floods and landslides to proactively evacuate people to safe places when natural disasters occur. The total number of households that need to be evacuated when storms and floods occur is about 1,800 households with nearly 7,000 people.

Every year, sections of Ho Chi Minh Road and National Highway 49 passing through the district are areas at high risk of landslides. The Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue has put them in key landslide areas to warn localities. The police and road management units proactively arrange forces to control and guide traffic in landslide areas and prepare materials and means to handle incidents to ensure traffic safety and clear the road as soon as possible.

In Nam Dong district, recent heavy rains have continued to cause flooding in some low-lying areas on the roads, affecting traffic and also posing a risk of landslides. Recently, the District Traffic Safety Committee coordinated with Thua Thien Hue Road Management and Construction Joint Stock Company to promptly overcome and handle local flooding on roads in the district. On Provincial Road 14B from Huong Phu commune to Huong Xuan, the road maintenance unit has dredged mud, rocks, treated the road surface and cleared manholes to avoid flooding when heavy rain occurs.

The District People's Committee has also built a resettlement area in Khe Tre town to serve the relocation and resettlement of households living in areas at high risk of landslides between La Son - Tuy Loan Expressway and Provincial Road 14B.

Vehicle owners and captains need to grasp the developments of strong winds at sea to proactively produce and prevent them.

Lowering the reservoir water level

Mr. Dang Van Hoa, Chief of Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, said that in order to proactively respond to bad weather (rain from November 12-17), localities and dam owners are required to closely monitor weather developments, promptly inform the authorities and people, and proactively deploy preventive measures. Notify owners of vehicles and captains of ships and boats (including transport ships) of the developments of strong winds at sea to proactively produce and prevent.

Review and update approved flood response plans. Direct forces to be on guard at locations at risk of floods, flash floods, landslides, localized flooding, and to be on guard and provide guidance at culverts and spillways when floods occur. Owners of irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs organize on-duty monitoring and strictly implement approved operating procedures to ensure safety of the works and safety of downstream areas.

The investor directs contractors who are constructing the project to inspect the work to ensure safety for people and construction materials. Arrange signs and instructions to ensure safety for people and vehicles passing through the unfinished construction site, clear the flow, and prevent local flooding.

In order to lower the water level of hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs and increase flood prevention capacity in the coming time, the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has continuously issued orders to operate reservoirs for Huong Dien, Binh Dien and Ta Trach lakes.

For Huong Dien Lake, increase the regulated operating flow through the spillway and turbine with a gradually increasing flow rate, avoiding sudden changes from about 400 - 600m3/s; Binh Dien Lake increases the regulated operating flow through the spillway and turbine with a gradually increasing flow rate, avoiding sudden changes from about 150 - 500m3/s, the time to gradually increase the flow rate is at 7:00 a.m. on November 11; Ta Trach Lake maintains the regulated operating flow through the spillway and turbine at 250-700m3/s to continue to gradually lower the lake water level.

Requesting localities downstream of hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs to strictly prohibit boating, firewood collection, fishing, etc. on the river, and to notify people to proactively prevent. The Provincial Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited organizes a shift to operate the dam and sluice gate system to ensure flood discharge capacity for the downstream areas of irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs.

The Prime Minister has just sent a telegram to localities on proactively responding to floods and ensuring safety for people in the Central Highlands region. Requesting the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities to organize the review and evacuation of households in dangerous areas, with high risks of landslides, flash floods, and deep flooding to safe places. Have plans to support temporary accommodation, food, and necessities for people who have to evacuate, ensuring a stable life for people. Arrange forces to guard and control people and vehicles through culverts, spillways, and deep flooded areas, resolutely not allowing people and vehicles to pass if safety is not ensured.
Article and photos: HA NGUYEN