More than 1.7 million people and thousands of hectares of rice in the central province of Quang Nam and Da Nang city will soon be protected from heavy flood and drought damage.

This follows a Government decision to more efficiently operate existing reservoirs in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River basin.

The decision was announced by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in Da Nang on June 22.

Under the decision, operations of the A Vuong, Dak Mi 4 and Song Tranh 2 reservoirs will be strictly controlled during the flood season between September and December.

This will require co-operation between the ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade.

Search and rescue committees in Da Nang and Quang Nam will also be involved.

The decision also calls for strong safety measures to be taken by the three hydropower plants in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon river system to minimise losses caused by the discharge of water from their reservoirs.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai said it was a timely decision on balancing electricity production and ensuring the safety of lowland populations and crops.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Huynh Van Thang said the decision would help both localities in dealing with salinity during drought and preventing heavy damage in flood season.

However, Ngo Viet Hai, General Director of Power Plant Corporation No 2, said investors who build and operate hydro-electricity plants could suffer losses if the water in reservoirs is kept or released based on schedules made by ministries and provinces instead of by plant operators.

He requested ministries and authorities in Quang Nam and Da Nang to carefully supervise the operation of hydropower plants in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon river system.

During the rainy season, which occurs from September, the reservoirs release water for the dam's safety, but this can cause unexpected floods in downstream areas.

Last year, the central region experienced losses of 28 trillion VND (1.3 billion USD) due to flood and storms.

VNA/VNN