Storage volume of reservoirs drop to dead water level

According to the Irrigation General Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development  and the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, long- lasting scorching heats have triggered water storage in reservoirs of the Northern and Central regions dipped to less than the average along with forest fire destroyed many rice crops. 
(Illustrative photo:SGGP)
(Illustrative photo:SGGP)
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh, General Director of the Directorate of Water Resources, rainfall shortage along with a scorching temperature of 37- 40 degrees Celsius and operation of hot and dry foehn wind caused water levels in reservoirs to reduce.
Currently,  capacity of water storage in reservoirs of  the South-Central region is only between 27 percent and 56 percent of the design. 
Sharing scarce water resources between irrigation and hydropower is recurring which has not ensured water supply for agricultural productivity. 

As reported, storage level in the Song Tranh 2 hydropower dam is currently dropping to dead water level.

Ka Nak lake and Ba Ha River replenishing water for Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces are also approximately dead water levels. Dai Ninh Lake and Ham Thuan pouring water to Binh Thuan province have a  capacity of 0.5 percent and 8.6 percent of the design, lower than annual percentage rate of 12 percent -23 percent. 
The Da River water plant dispatched a document to Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant to suggest an increase of power generation and water release to the downstream due to a risk of clean water shortage.

A report of the General Department of Irrigation showed that since the beginning of July until now, there have been about 4,450 hectares of drying rice crops in the North Central region due to the prolonged hot weather and rainny shortage. 

In case of the heat has prolonged until the end of July, around 16,200 hectares of crops are expected to be in drought.

In South Central region, there are 13,943 hectares of drought and saline intrusion crops. 

As forecast, around 52,800 hectares of summer-autumn crops would be able to be drought. 

Amid the situation, the General Department of Water Resources has sent official letters to localities about  the plan of anti-drought.

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