The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the
provincial authority of Thua Thien-Hue city blocked the water current of a branch of
the Huong River so that it could flow into the Ta Trach Reservoir yesterday, Jan
11.

Water is diverted from a branch of the Huong River into the Ta Trach Reservoir in Thua Thien-Hue Province. The ceremony marks the launch of a flood-prevention and clean-water project in the region. (Photo: VNS)

The
project aims to control floods in areas near the lower section of the river and
provide clean water for both residents and industrial production in Thua Thien-Hue
Province.

Construction of the reservoir, which has a basin of 717sq.km, started in Huong
Thuy District in November 2005. The reservoir has a 1,187-metre-long,
56-metre-high main dam and four secondary dams.

With an
investment of nearly VND3,500 billion (US$175 million), the reservoir is
expected to become operational in 2013.

The
project will also irrigate some 35,000 hectares of land under agricultural
production in the lower section of the river, and at the same time improve the
water environment of lagoons in the province by reducing water salinity.

Located
on Ta Trach River, one of the two main branches that merge into the famous Huong
River in Thua Thien-Hue, Ta Trach Reservoir is one of the largest irrigation
works in central Viet Nam.

Nguyen
Van Sau, director of the Irrigation Investment and Construction Co No5, who
represented MARD, the investor in this project, said after the water-current
blocking ceremony that workers would soon complete construction on the main and
auxiliary dams and others works of the reservoir.

The Ta
Trach Reservoir Project also includes construction of a 21MW hydropower plant in
the area.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News