Actively draining water for more than 28,000 hectares of crops

Photo caption — Many crop areas in Khanh Yen commune ( Lao Cai ) were damaged due to the impact of storms and rains. Photo: Huong Thu/VNA

The total area of rice and crops flooded reached 28,312 hectares. Localities also mobilized 330 pumping stations with 1,262 pumps and many sluices to promptly drain the water.

Specifically, in the Northern region, the affected area is about 9,070 hectares, including: Ninh Binh 3,150 hectares, Lao Cai 1,285 hectares, Hanoi 4,101 hectares, Bac Ninh 172 hectares, Tuyen Quang 346 hectares.

In the North Central region, the total flooded area is 19,242 hectares, including: Thanh Hoa 3,990 hectares of rice and 2,713 hectares of crops; Nghe An 4,480 hectares of rice and 6,062 hectares of crops; Ha Tinh 1,552 hectares of crops; Quang Tri 161 hectares of rice and 284 hectares of crops.

Faced with the situation of heavy rain causing widespread flooding, localities have urgently operated the drainage system to minimize damage. In the Northern region, 300 pumping stations with 1,137 machines and 61 drainage culverts are currently operating, of which Hanoi and Ninh Binh are the two localities mobilizing the largest forces. Irrigation construction companies such as Bac Nam Ha and Bac Hung Hai are also actively deploying pumping stations, opening culverts and regulating water flow in accordance with the actual situation.

In the North Central region, Thanh Hoa province has operated 30 pumping stations with 125 machines. The remaining localities are also proactively draining water through self-flowing drainage works and continue to monitor and update the flooding situation in the area.

Currently, the work of statistics, damage assessment and implementation of remedial measures is still being actively carried out by localities. The Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction continues to closely coordinate with provinces, cities and irrigation works management units to direct and urge the operation of irrigation works, provide technical support and ensure the safety of the system after storms.

The Department of Irrigation Works Management and Construction requested that localities and relevant units be required to strengthen inspection, supervision and implementation of measures to ensure absolute safety for irrigation works, especially works under construction and reservoirs.

For projects under construction, it is necessary to develop a construction plan suitable for weather conditions, absolutely not allowing incidents due to the impact of rain and floods. It is strictly forbidden to implement items that do not meet progress requirements or do not ensure safe construction conditions during the flood season.

For reservoirs, operations must be carried out in accordance with procedures approved by competent authorities. Reservoirs with floodgates must have their water levels adjusted appropriately to ensure the safety of the works and not discharge floodwaters that are dangerous to downstream areas. At the same time, it is necessary to store water reasonably for existing reservoirs with low storage capacity. Early warnings to downstream residents before releasing floodwaters, as well as when there is a risk of an incident, must be fully and seriously implemented.

Localities and construction management units need to maintain 24/7 duty during periods of rain and floods. It is necessary to arrange permanent forces at construction sites at risk of incidents, especially reservoirs that are full of water, to promptly handle unusual situations according to the "four on-site" motto: on-site command, on-site forces, on-site means, and on-site logistics.