The lake is "dismembered" in a mess
The situation of encroaching on the protection scope of irrigation works to take land to plant acacia trees is taking place in many localities in Quang Tri. Lao Dong Newspaper reporters' investigation shows that Tien Phong, Cai Cach and Bau Veng reservoirs all have violations, affecting the management, exploitation and protection of water reservoirs.
Typically, Tien Phong irrigation lake, located in the area of 2 communes Tan My and Sen Ngu. Taking advantage of the time when the lake water is low, some people have brought machinery to dig the lakebed, pile soil to create ground to expand the area for acacia planting. In September 2026, in the Khe Thuoc area, more than 2km from the concrete dyke of the lake, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters recorded at least 10 large land banks, 1-3m high, being built in the middle of the lake. Scattered soil and rocks, dug ditches stretching hundreds of meters, dividing the lakebed into many areas. Notably, on a high land bank still with traces of new excavators, rows of young acacia trees have been planted and are starting to take root. Interspersed between the new land banks are areas where acacia trees have developed, showing that excavation and encroachment activities do not only take place at one time.
The formation of a series of embankments in the middle of the lake has distorted the natural terrain and narrowed the water storage space. According to local authorities, this activity risks changing the elevation, water storage capacity, affecting water storage capacity, flow regulation and project safety.
A similar situation was also recorded at Cai Cach Lake, less than 1km from Tien Phong Lake.Meanwhile, at Bau Veng Lake, Dong Thuan ward, construction works appeared within the protection scope of the reservoir.
The fact that many irrigation lakes are being encroached upon, especially when the rainy and flood season is taking place, poses an urgent requirement to inspect, determine the level of impact and restore the status quo to ensure the safety of the works.
Violations reoccur, responsibility needs to be clarified
According to Mr. Tran Duy Hung - Head of the Economic Department of Tan My commune, after receiving the news, the locality inspected Tien Phong reservoir and discovered 2 men and an excavator at the scene. The locality has made a record and handed it over to the Commune Police for investigation and handling. However, although it was determined that the incident was serious and risked affecting the safety of the reservoir, the People's Committee of Tan My commune has not yet reported to higher authorities.
Meanwhile, on September 11, Mr. Nguyen Van Nghia - Chairman of Sen Ngu Commune People's Committee - said that he was not aware of the incident and requested reporters to provide locations and coordinates for inspection. On September 16, after inspection, Mr. Nghia confirmed that there was an encroachment situation as reflected by Lao Dong Newspaper.
Although violations at Tien Phong Lake have been detected since August 2026, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Tri province has not yet grasped the information and has not received reports from the locality. Only after reporters from Lao Dong Newspaper provided information, did the department's leaders direct the specialized unit to inspect. Mr. Le Quang Lam - Head of the Sub-Department of Irrigation of Quang Tri province - said that the unit initially determined that there were violations within the protection scope of irrigation works at Tien Phong, Cai Cach and Bau Veng lakes.
It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time the situation of encroachment on irrigation works has been discovered in Sen Ngu commune. In August 2025, after the reflection of Lao Dong Newspaper, the Sen Ngu commune government inspected and made a record of administrative violation against a subject for the act of encroaching on 495m2 of land managed by the State in the Thanh Son Lake area to expand the acacia planting area. The locality then carried out handling procedures and requested to restore the status quo according to regulations. However, more than 1 year later, the situation of encroachment on irrigation works continued to be discovered at Tien Phong Lake, with a larger scale of excavation and embankment.
Ms. Nguyen Hong Phuong - Deputy Director of Quang Tri Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment - said that according to the decentralization regulations of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, local authorities are responsible for state management of irrigation, dam safety, and reservoirs in the area according to decentralization. Currently, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment has directed inspection, handling, and clarification of responsibilities.
