VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to abolish the use of specialised zones which slow down and dissipate the energy of flood flows to the capital city and the Hong (Red) River Delta region.

Specifically, specialised zones in Tam Thanh District in the northern province of Phu Tho, Lap Thach District in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, and Luong Phu-Quang Oai and Ba Vi in Ha Noi in conjunction with the flood control system on the Day River will no longer be used to slow down flood flows from March 10. The Son La Hydro-electricity Power Plant, together with Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang and Thac Ba reservoirs, will instead take on the task.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the specialised zones were originally located in desolate areas, but these places are now occupied and used for production. The new system would relieve problems that were affecting economic development and causing environmental pollution.

According to the Government plan, Hong River flood flows should be kept below 28,000 cubic metres per second at Son Tay Gauging Station, and below 20,000 cubic metres per second at the Ha Noi Gauging Station to protect the safety of the capital city and the region.

The Government also plans to upgrade key construction works on the Day River and dredge the river bed to assure a water flow of 2,500 cubic metres per second in case of serious flooding.

Dyke routes between the Hong and Thai Binh rivers, protective dyke systems in Tam Thanh, Lap Thach, Luong Phu-Quang Oai and Ba Vi districts would also be improved to meet national flood prevention and dyke standards.

Rotor installed

A 1,000-tonne, 2.8m-high rotor has been successfully installed into the second turbine of the Son La Hydro-electricity Power Plant.

Nguyen The Trinh, director of Lilama 10 Joint Stock Company under the plant, said the installation would assure electricity supplies during the dry season and save the amount of water used for power in the late flooding season in May.

The turbine will begin providing power for the national grid in late April.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News