Dykes need to be safe in stormy season

VOV has interviewed Vu Van Tu, deputy head of the Department of Dyke Management and Flood and Storm Prevention and Control (DDMFSPC) and under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) about dyke repairs and early warnings.

VOV: How has flood and storm prevention and control carried out?

Mr Tu: Every locality have paid attention to flood and storm prevention and control. Local officials regularly conduct fact-finding tours to identify key points and come up with measures to protect the appropriate plans and dykes.

It needs a minimum of VND450 billion to repair the country’s dyke systems. However, the Government has just introduced cutbacks of VND200 billion, equal to 70 percent of last year’s sum. Meanwhile, the cost of salaries and construction materials has increased compared to last year, therefore the MARD is asking the Government to provide more capital to localities.

VOV: What do you think of the hot weather this year?

Mr Tu: According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), the number and intensity of storms will be the same as the last few years. This means there will probably be 9 storms and floods at a warning level of grade 3. The Central Steering Board for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control said that all localities should be aware of the special features of weather. It is nearly the end of June the usual tropical low pressure has not yet appeared. The rainfall is lower than the average level for several years. Weather is very complicated, for instance the weather in middle of June hit a record high of 40⁰C. It is forecast that storms and floods will appear in late July and early August, therefore, all areas should be aware of this and conduct regular inspections.

Most dykes were made from soil and have often become unstable when getting wet for too long. In addition, the river mouths and delta regions are crowded with people and are of economic importance to local people’s livelihoods. They need to be protected at any cost.

VOV: Did the DDMFSPC give any advice to local authorities?

Mr Tu: The State has already spent a lot of money on fighting storms and floods while the local authorities are responsible for doing the necessary work. However, every one must get involved in prevention work. People in affected areas must be active and carry out preventive measures to save themselves, instead of waiting for others to rescue them. In addition, the local authorities and relevant agencies should join efforts with local people.

The three regions have different conditions. Southern people can live in the floods season when water levels in the Mekong, Tien and Hau Rivers raise gradually. In the central region, due to high hilly terrain, floods rise and fall very quickly. In the north with the huge deltas of the Hong and Thai Binh river systems, if the dykes break, the water will cover a wide area this would be a huge disaster.

In 1932, the French tried to build 7 protection shields for the dyke systems in the northern delta region to avoid floods if the dykes broke. However, they failed to achieve what they had planned to improve the loves of 2 million people living in flood-prove areas. Now the local population has reached 27 million people. Over the past years, we have done all we can to reinforce the dykes with the areas which are often hit by floods and storms. This year when Son La Lake is put into operation it will be able to hold 7 billion cub.m of water.

VOV: Thank you very much.