Resolutely handle the encroachment of flood drainage channels

In the province, there is still a situation where people encroach on riverbeds, streams, and flood drainage channels after the reservoir's spillway to build tents, stalls, and livestock barns... The consequences are narrowing the flow, hindering the reservoir's ability to drain floods. The reality at Song Luy reservoir is an example, which is being handled by the locality.

Current status of people building floating houses on Song Luy Lake

Song Luy Lake is located in Phan Son commune ( Lam Dong province) with a capacity of 99.9 million m3. This is considered the largest irrigation project in the Southeast region of the province, with the task of providing stable irrigation water for 24,200 hectares of cultivated land.

At the same time, water supply for daily life and tourism ; maintain environmental flow, reduce downstream floods, and combine with power generation. However, currently there are a total of 25 households encroaching on the Song Luy reservoir to build floating houses for living, exploit aquatic products, and build fish cages in the reservoir. This situation leads to the risk of affecting the flow and flood drainage, especially in the rainy season.

Mr. Mai Hong Dang - Chairman of Phan Son Commune People's Committee said: To verify and resolve this situation, recently, the Commune People's Committee coordinated with Binh Thuan Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited (Company) to inspect the areas of Song Luy Lake, Phan Ri - Phan Thiet irrigation canal system, Main Canal 812 - Chau Ta. Thereby, it was noted that grass growth obstructed the flow and flood drainage channel in main canal 812.

As for the 25 households that have encroached on the reservoir, they have previously made commitments, but most of them have not yet dismantled and returned to their original state. Currently, only 4 households have moved out of the reservoir, while 21 households have not yet moved and continue to sign commitments to move by December 5, 2025. The reason given by the households is that there is still a part of aquatic products being raised in cages that has not yet reached the time of harvest. If after this time, the households do not move, the People's Committee of Phan Son commune will proceed according to regulations.

The situation of people encroaching on riverbeds, streams, and flood drainage channels after flood discharge causes difficulties in coordinating the implementation of response plans for emergency situations such as flood discharge, dam breakage, etc.

To resolve this situation, in August 2025, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen issued an official dispatch assigning relevant units and localities to inspect, review and thoroughly handle violations, encroachment, land occupation, and illegal construction in the protection corridor of irrigation works in the management area. In case of serious violations that are not thoroughly handled, causing negative public opinion among the people, the Chairmen of the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special zones must be responsible before the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Implementing the direction of the provincial leaders, recently, the working group of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province inspected the actual situation at a number of violation points and proposed early handling directions. In particular, the group requested the People's Committee of Phan Son commune to coordinate with the Company to promptly resolve the above encroachment and occupation situation and return the current status to the Company for management, exploitation and operation of Song Luy reservoir to ensure safety in accordance with current legal regulations.

At the same time, continue to strengthen inspection, promptly detect and resolve violations to prevent other violations from occurring.

Phan Son commune in particular and some other localities said that they will regularly coordinate to propagate, mobilize, and widely inform households to soon carry out the relocation. From there, the current status will be restored to the Company managing, exploiting and operating the reservoirs to ensure safety in accordance with current legal regulations. If households do not comply, the locality will proceed to dismantle according to regulations.

According to Binh Thuan Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited, by the end of July 2025, the whole province recorded 443 violations of flood drainage canal and stream corridors. In addition to Phan Son commune, there are a number of other localities in the province that have recorded violations of flood drainage canal and stream corridors such as: Vinh Hao, Ham Thuan Bac, Ham Thuan, Ham Kiem and Ham Thuan Nam. To date, localities have handled 443 cases, while 163 cases have not been completely resolved.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xu-ly-dut-diem-tinh-trang-lan-chiem-kenh-thoat-lu-391243.html