Ban Mong dam contributes to flood control
After each heavy rain, the Nam La stream receives and drains water from many areas to the center of Son La. Previously, the stream bed was narrow and silted, causing the downstream area to be frequently flooded.
To proactively prevent and combat floods, Son La invests in many irrigation works, regulating flow and drainage. In which, Ban Mong dam, Nam La embankment and urban drainage system contribute to regulating, cutting and draining floods.
Ban Mong Lake was built in the Hua La area, now belonging to Chieng Coi ward, with a total investment of more than 730 billion VND, completed and put into use in August 2022.
The main dam is more than 50m high and about 400m long; the reservoir has a capacity of nearly 10.2 million m3, along with a flood discharge system, water intake culverts and monitoring equipment.
According to Mr. Hoang Quoc Trung, Head of the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Department of Chieng Coi ward, Ban Mong lake is a key irrigation project, contributing to regulating water and reducing flood pressure for downstream areas.
Previously, heavy rain caused many areas along Nam La to be flooded. Since the Ban Mong dam was put into operation, water regulation has been more proactive, and the flooding situation has decreased significantly," Mr. Trung said.
Mr. Lo Van Giot, residing in Tong Panh village, said that in the past, heavy rain often caused flooding of fields, affecting crops. "Now the water has receded faster, crops are less affected, people are assured to produce," Mr. Giot said.
Nam La embankment expands flood drainage corridor
If Ban Mong reservoir plays the role of regulating water from upstream, the Nam La embankment system contributes to expanding the flood drainage corridor through urban areas.
The Nam La stream embankment project has a total investment of more than 1,475 billion VND, implemented in 2 phases; the main items will be completed by the end of 2023.
The stream is dredged, routed, and solid embankments are built on both banks, combined with a system of bridges, drainage culverts and auxiliary works. Through this, the flow is shaped, the stream bed is more open, increasing drainage capacity when it rains heavily.
Ms. Dang Thi Nhan, a resident of group 5, To Hieu ward, said that in the past, the Nam La riverbed was narrow, and every time it rained heavily, the water flowed fast, causing danger to households along the stream.
After being dredged, adjusted and embanked, the stream bed is more clear. Heavy rain drains water faster than before," Ms. Nhan shared.
The regulation of the Nam La stream also contributes to limiting water inflow into residential areas, traffic roads and production areas along both sides of the stream.
Completing urban drainage system
Along with Ban Mong lake and Nam La embankment, the drainage and wastewater treatment project in the central area of Son La has a total investment of more than 900 billion VND, contributing to completing urban drainage infrastructure.
The project includes a wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 6,857m3/day and night, pumping stations, collection pipeline systems and thousands of household connection points, contributing to limiting water stagnation and improving the urban environment.
From Ban Mong dam to Nam La embankment and drainage system, Son La is gradually forming a continuous water control network. When it rains heavily, water from upstream is regulated, led through Nam La corridor and drained through the urban system.
According to Mr. Nghiem Van Tuan, Chairman of Chieng An Ward People's Committee, maintaining a clear flow is an important factor for projects to be effective.
If the stream bed is kept ventilated, combined with the regulation capacity of Ban Mong lake, collecting wastewater from the urban drainage system, the effectiveness of flood prevention and control for the downstream area of Chieng An ward will be improved, and farmers in the downstream area will not worry about flooding crops," Mr. Tuan said.
The locality continues to focus on dredging, clearing the flow, treating waste and preventing encroachment on flood drainage corridors.
The combination of Ban Mong lake, Nam La embankment and drainage system is helping Son La to be more proactive in the face of heavy rain, reduce the risk of flooding, and protect residential areas and central infrastructure.
