(GLO) - Reservoirs and dams play a critical role in supplying water for irrigation, daily use, and hydropower generation. However, in Gia Lai province, particularly in its western region, irrigation infrastructure remains inconsistent and insufficient to meet demand.
In a recent interview with Gia Lai Broadcasting and Newspaper, Mr. Vũ Ngọc An, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, discussed the current status, challenges, and future plans for the province’s irrigation systems.
*What is the current status of irrigation infrastructure and the management of reservoirs and dams in Gia Lai?
Mr. Vũ Ngọc An, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment. Photo: Provided by the interviewee
- Gia Lai province currently operates 283 reservoirs with a combined capacity of approximately 1.275 billion cubic meters, along with 486 weirs and 53 hydropower reservoirs totaling nearly 2,700 MW of capacity.
This infrastructure supplies irrigation water to more than 270,000 hectares of farmland each year.
Beyond irrigation, these facilities provide water for domestic use, power generation, aquaculture, and industrial production.
Large reservoirs such as Ayun Hạ, Ia Mơr, Định Bình, Đồng Mít, and Núi Một ensure stable irrigation for rice, crops, and industrial plants.
They also help regulate floods, provide water for livestock and aquaculture, and support local livelihoods, making a significant contribution to the province’s socio-economic development.
However, many of these facilities were built decades ago and are now severely deteriorated. Landslides on dam slopes, damaged spillways, and degraded intake structures create difficulties in operation, especially during rainy and flood seasons.
Smaller reservoirs managed by local authorities often lack design documentation, complicating maintenance and database development.
In addition, limited operational capacity at the grassroots level leads to technical mismanagement and safety risks.
Ayun Hạ irrigation reservoir supplies water for over 13,500 hectares of agricultural land, supports two rice crops per year in Phú Thiện, Ia Pa, Ayun Pa, generates electricity, and serves several industrial production facilities. Photo: Phạm Quý
*What are the reasons for the limited water supply capacity in the western region?
-Geographical and historical factors have created significant disparities between the eastern and western parts of Gia Lai.
The eastern region, formerly part of Bình Định province, benefited from early investment in reservoirs and dams, with a synchronized canal network adapted to flat terrain and concentrated populations. This provided strong support for irrigation development.
In contrast, the western region, originally part of Gia Lai, faces difficult mountainous terrain, steep slopes, sparse population, prolonged dry seasons, and scattered, unstable surface water sources.
Combined with limited investment resources, these challenges have left the west with insufficient water supply, particularly during the dry season when shortages are frequent.
*Does the province have plans to improve the irrigation system in the western region?
- Yes. The province has designated the western region as a priority for investment during the 2026-2030 period. Major projects include the Ea Thul project and the Ayun Thượng-Đăk Pờ Tó water transfer system, along with anti-erosion works and irrigation modernization initiatives.
The province also plans to expand water-saving irrigation technologies, improve reservoir connectivity, and construct canal systems adapted to local terrain.
These measures aim to narrow regional disparities and secure a stable water supply for both agricultural production and daily life.
*What solutions will be implemented to address the deterioration of reservoirs and dams?
- In the short term, Gia Lai will conduct a comprehensive review of existing infrastructure to develop a prioritized repair list based on urgency and funding availability.
Resources will be mobilized from local and central budgets, national target programs, climate change adaptation funds, and social investment.
The province is also accelerating the use of monitoring technologies, meteorological and hydrological forecasting, and reservoir regulation systems.
Training for operational staff, regular maintenance programs, and community awareness campaigns will be strengthened to ensure safety during storm and flood seasons.
At the same time, Gia Lai is actively seeking diverse funding sources for reservoir rehabilitation, water-saving irrigation, and canal development.
The province has requested that the central government enhance decentralization, increase budget allocations for maintenance of critical reservoirs, and introduce special mechanisms for large-scale irrigation and water supply projects in drought-prone areas.
Additional proposals include investment in centralized rural clean water supply systems and technical support for training human resources in monitoring, operation, and regulation technologies. The ultimate goal is modern, efficient, and safe irrigation management for sustainable development.
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