Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai

Climate change was more a cause of the central region’s devastating floods than the reckless discharge of water by hydro power plants, a deputy prime minster told reporters Tuesday.

“Areas with the most casualties were not affected by the water released from power plants… Deaths occurred in places we don’t expect. It’s a result of climate change.”

Many National Assembly representatives last week said the water released at the Ba Ha River Power Plant in Phu Yen Province may have worsened floods caused by typhoon Mirinae. The central province of Phu Yen was the hardest hit by the floods with 79 deaths recorded as of last weekend.

The lawmakers subsequently asked the government to tighten control over hydro power plant projects and assess their impact on the environment.

But Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said all power plants projects were reviewed by scientists and local governments before being approved. The government would not allow a plan to proceed if it was not viable, he said.

Hai disagreed with the common sentiment that the opening of new power plants should be restricted because the country needed to continue building reservoirs to ensure enough water supplies during dry season.

“There is a lack of water throughout the central region so the policy is to keep building more reservoirs,” Hai said.

Source: Tuoi Tre