The project will construct hydrological observation facilities to monitor the water level of rivers and dams and the rainfall in the basin of the Huong river, as well as a water-related disaster management information system to mitigate flood disasters in the general Huong river basin.
The coastal area of Central Vietnam is often struck by typhoons, resulting in storm and landslide disasters each year. Disaster risk reduction is an important challenge from the perspective of preventing human casualties and economic loss. In particular, a heavy rainy region where flood disaster occurs frequently is the Huong river basin of Thua Thien-Hue province, due to inappropriate water releases from dams during torrential rains.
Vice Minister of MARD Hoang Van Thang (right) and JICA Vietnam’s Chief Representative Fujita Yasuo
at the signing ceremony. (Courtesy photo: JICA Vietnam)
Effective operation of three dams in the basin (Binh Dien, Huong Dien and Ta Trach dams) and precise river management during heavy rains are priorities as seen by Prime Minister directive issued in 2013 for proper dam management and stronger safety measures.
Besides, the project will increase the number of hydrological observation points which monitor the water level of rivers and river flow volume in the Huong river basin (around 2,800 square kilometers) and shorten the intervals at which rainfall and water level information is disseminated from 60 to 10 minutes, thereby contributing to improve the capacity in managing dams and rivers, leading to the prevention and mitigation of water-related disasters.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Thua Thien-Hue People’s Committee are executing agencies of the project, which is planned to operate within 24 months, including detailed design work and the bidding period.
Equipment of the project are: an X-band radar system, hydrology observation stations (10 locations), closed-circuit televisions (14 locations), real-time dam operation systems, direct communication networks (seven lines), an information management system, a multiple information display, a digital signage system for fighting floods, a direct commanding unit, a topographical survey, and a river channel cross-section survey./.