Hundreds of irrigation reservoirs built decades ago in the Central Region have now downgraded over time due to storms and annual flooding, and which are causing grave concern to local residents, especially during the rainy season.
Nguyen Mau Van, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Quang Ngai Province, said 43 irrigation reservoirs are currently unsafe to operate.
Da Ban Reservoir was built 36 years ago in Mo Duc District, having capacity of 940,000 cubic meters that could irrigate 120 hectares of farm land. However, in its present downgraded state the dam could breach at any given time.
The Hoc Sam Reservoir in Mo Duc District, now 28-years-old, is in a badly damaged condition with the spillway vulnerable to depression and landslides during flooding.
The valve system of Nui Ngang Reservoir in Ba To District is also unable to operate efficiently enough to close and open the sluice gates.
According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 75 percent of the 117 reservoirs in the province were constructed for a 24 year period, and now are a threat to the local people in their present downgraded conditions.
Forty percent of the 1,000 irrigation works in Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue Provinces are in danger of breaching during the flooding season this year.
Quang Nam Province has also recorded many damaged irrigation reservoirs that need repairs. The province is now spending VND70-130 billion to repair the worst damaged dams including Chan Son, Vinh Trinh and Thach Ban.
They plan to examine all reservoirs in the province by end of July and start repair measures so as to ensure the security of the local people before the onset of the flooding season.
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