Survey to assess the impact of operating Buon Kuop hydropower reservoir causing flooding in rice fields of Krong Ana district.

15:28, September 6, 2023

The Office of the Dak Lak Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, the People's Committee of Krong Ana district and Buon Kuop Hydropower Company have just inspected and assessed the impact of operating the Buon Kuop hydropower reservoir on rice production in the fields of Krong Ana district.

According to local people's feedback, the slow drainage of Buon Kuop hydropower reservoir has caused flooding in the fields upstream of the reservoir in Ea Na, Quang Dien, Binh Hoa communes and Buon Trap town (Krong Ana district).

Through actual inspection, some low-lying areas in these localities were flooded. However, at Binh Hoa and Buon Trap bridges, the water flow was very strong, at Buon Drai waterfall, the water level of Buon Kuop lake was at 410.5m, lower than the waterfall and exposed rapids with a difference of 1.5m.

Rice fields in Binh Hoa commune, Krong Ana district were flooded.

Through preliminary assessment, the cause of flooding was not due to the operation of Buon Kuop hydropower reservoir but due to the large water flow from the upstream of Krong Ana river branch (the highest value recorded at Giang Son station was about 260 m ³ /s at 10:00 p.m. on September 3), causing the river water level to rise, causing flooding not only in the localities of Krong Ana district but also in Buon Triet and Dak Lieng communes of Lak district. Currently, the water level at Giang Son station is about 160 m ³ /s and is continuing to decrease.

In addition, the distance from the fields of the communes to the head of the Buon Kuop hydroelectric reservoir by river is 9.2 km from Buon Trap bridge, 12 km from Binh Hoa bridge and 16.5 km from Quang Dien bridge. Therefore, the claim that the operation of the reservoir causes flooding is unfounded.

Checking the water level of Krong Ana River through Buon Drai, Ea Na Commune

Checking the water level of the Krong Ana River through Buon Drai (Ea Na commune, Krong Ana district)

In order to have a scientific and objective basis, the agencies and units have proposed that the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee assign the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue to be the leading unit, inviting specialized consulting units to survey and assess the impact of the operating regime of Buon Kuop Hydropower Reservoir on the rice fields in the upstream of this reservoir, thereby proposing farming solutions and amending the reservoir process accordingly in case of impact.

Minh Chi

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