A good water source helps to ensure the irrigation progress
According to the General Department of Irrigation, during the irrigation water intake time, EVN has maximum operated the Hoa Binh, Thac Ba and Tuyen Quang hydropower plants 2-3 days in advance to replenish water for downstream. The average water level at the Hanoi Hydrological Station for the whole 2nd phase is guaranteed as required. The total water discharge of hydropower reservoirs in phase 2 is 2.44 billion m3; the total water discharge volume of the 2 phases is 3.44 billion m3.
Mr. Luong Van Anh - Deputy Director of the General Department of Irrigation assessed that the river system's flow is maintained at a high level. Besides, due to rain, the water source has created favorable conditions for irrigation works to operate water intake. The total amount of water discharged from hydropower reservoirs in the second phase is nearly 700 million m3 lower than the planned level.
The fulfilled water area by the end of phase 2 is 407,782ha, reaching 80.5% of the planned planting area, an increase of 64.13% compared to the end of phase 1. In which, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh provinces basically completed the plan.
According to Mr. Luong Van Anh, the water level lowering situation on the river system continues to happen rapidly, especially on the Da river, the section from Ba Vi district (Hanoi city) to the upstream, the water level has decreased from 1-1.5m compared to the year 2021. This situation has seriously affected the operation of Trung Ha pumping station (Hanoi city, irrigating about 3,335ha) which can only operate 1-2 out of 9 machines (last years operated from 5-6 machines), some times can not operate.
Need to accelerate the water intake progress
It is expected that, before the third phase of water intake, most localities will complete the water intake plan of areas dependent on additional flow from hydropower reservoirs, except Hanoi city which needs water intake phase 3 (expected from 13 to 17 February 2022). Phase 3 is the last water intake phase, mainly to supply some unfinished areas and areas with late water intake demand (due to winter crop cultivation); at the same time storing water into the irrigation system for watering.
In order to ensure water sources for planting and save water discharge from hydropower reservoirs, the General Department of Irrigation proposed the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and cities in the Midlands and Northern Delta region continue to operate the work to increase water intake after the second phase if have possible water source conditions.