Funds needed for dam inspections

THUA THIEN-HUE (VNS)— Most of the reservoirs and dams in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue have not undergone mandatory safety inspections due to a shortage of funds, said Do Van Dinh, director of the Thua Thien-Hue Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company.

The Government's Decree 72, issued in 2007, stipulated that reservoirs and dams which have operated for 7-10 years must undergo another safety inspection. Most of the reservoirs and dams in the province have been used for 10-30 years, he said.

The five biggest reservoirs that have not been inspected are Truoi, Hoa My, Phu Bai, Tho Son and A La, with capacities of 55 million, 10 million, 6 million, 5.5 million and 0.4 million cubic metres respectively.

The company's check showed that many reservoirs and dams sank, absorbed water and suffered from landslides. Many reservoirs did not have valves to regulate water. Some others such as Phu Bai and Tho Son flooded whenever water rose to warning level 2.

Dinh said that it took about VND400-500 million (US$19,000-23,800) to inspect each reservoir - funds which the locality did not have to spare.

The company and local authorities are going to send a document to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development asking for financial support.

Provincial reservoir and dam management offices have assigned officials to keep a close watch on the reservoirs to regulate water.

The province has a total of 19 reservoirs and more than 120 dams. The reservoirs have a total capacity of more than 100 million cubic metres and supply water for 50,000ha of rice. — VNS