Directive No. 07/NN-QLN-CT on Strengthening Management, Promoting Repair and Maintenance Work, and Ensuring Safety of Water Reservoirs

DIRECTIVE

Regarding strengthening management, promoting maintenance and repair work,

ensuring the safety of water storage reservoirs

Currently, our country has constructed and put into operation many water storage reservoirs. Just considering the reservoirs directly supplying irrigation water for agricultural production, there are nearly 500 reservoirs with dams over 10 meters high, with storage capacity of 1 million cubic meters or more, and thousands of smaller ponds and lakes. The irrigated area served by these reservoirs is over 400,000 hectares. These reservoirs are valuable assets and play a significant role in production and the daily life of local residents. During the rainy season, the reservoirs, on one hand, have the effect of limiting and reducing flood damage in downstream areas, while on the other hand, they are weak points that always pose a risk of causing major floods. Ensuring the safety of water storage reservoirs must always be considered the top priority in the management and operation of water conservancy works.

The results of inspections and evaluations of reservoirs conducted by the Ministry of Water Resources (former) from 1992 to 1993 showed that many reservoirs were damaged or had issues that had not been repaired or addressed. Common problems included seepage causing siltation on the downstream dam crest and toe, erosion of stone slabs protecting against wave action on the upstream dam crest, strong development of cracks in earth dams that had not been thoroughly treated; deterioration of concrete intake structures; torn or leaking joints in conduits; gates at spillways being jammed and unable to ensure flood discharge capacity as designed; flood design criteria being too low, thus spillway openings being insufficient for flood discharge; spillways not being reinforced, leading to erosion and reduced water storage capacity; poor quality management roads or lack of bridges preventing people and machinery from accessing the reservoirs for emergency response or large floods...

The causes of the above situation partly stem from the fact that the quality of the works was not truly guaranteed when handed over for management and operation, and also due to insufficient investment in regular maintenance, timely repairs of damages, and completion of deficiencies. As a result, the condition of damage has persisted and worsened, reducing the effectiveness of the works in serving production. To proactively ensure safety and improve the efficiency of reservoir operations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities, and Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement the following tasks:

1. Organize inspections and evaluations of the current status of reservoirs in their respective regions; pay particular attention to assessing the quality of key works (earth dams, spillways, intake structures), calculate and update flood data in the reservoir watershed, inspect and determine the scope of protection for the flood discharge channel downstream of the spillway. Based on inspection results, develop plans for repairs, striving to complete repairs of severely damaged reservoirs or those with significant deficiencies affecting safety during the rainy season within 2 to 3 years. The funding for these repairs will be allocated according to the following principles:

- Central budget managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for repairing large reservoirs (with storage capacity of 10 million cubic meters or more) that are severely damaged.

- Local budget and water resources fees for repairing or supporting the repair of medium and small reservoirs.

- Mobilizing the local population benefiting from the reservoirs to contribute labor for part or all of the earthwork in repairing small dams.

2. Consolidate and strengthen the management of reservoirs. It is necessary to focus on improving and reinforcing the following aspects:

- Strengthening the organization of units managing and operating reservoirs from Water Conservancy Enterprises to teams operating key works. Clearly define the responsibilities and duties of managers, technical staff, and workers responsible for operation and protection of the reservoir.

Small reservoirs managed by the community must also have dedicated personnel for operation and maintenance, and must be regularly inspected and assisted by relevant government agencies in terms of professional expertise.

- Based on technical regulations for managing and operating works, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development or Water Conservancy Enterprises shall issue detailed technical management regulations for each reservoir.

- Each year, sufficient funds and labor should be allocated for the maintenance, upkeep, and repair of damages in key works of reservoirs. Depending on the importance of the works and the available resources, gradually enhance management equipment (communication tools, inspection devices, monitoring equipment...) and improve living conditions for managers and workers at the works, facilitating management and protection of the reservoirs.

- Organize training to improve the professional skills and practical abilities of reservoir managers, including dedicated personnel at community-managed reservoirs.

3. Before entering the rainy season and throughout the rainy season, the Provincial People's Committee directs the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committees of counties with reservoirs to assign specific officials to regularly inspect safety assurance, urge implementation of flood prevention plans for reservoirs, and reinforce local forces at critical weak points when necessary.

In case of unusually large rains or floods exceeding design criteria, proactive measures must be taken to prevent disasters affecting people and property in downstream areas.

Ensuring the safety of water storage reservoirs is a very important and arduous task, therefore it requires continuous attention and favorable conditions from all levels and sectors. The Ministry assigns the Water Management and Water Conservancy Works Administration to lead and coordinate with the Planning and Master Planning Department, the Science, Technology and Product Quality Department to effectively implement the contents of this Directive; collect repair plans for reservoirs from localities and report to the Ministry before July 1997./.