MoIT To Conduct Hydro-power Inspections

The Song Bung 5 Hydro-power plant dam in the central province of Quang Nam. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has ordered the Ministry of Industry and Trade to tighten inspections on hydro-power dams and reservoirs. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha

HA NOI — The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been ordered to conduct more inspections on hydro-power dams and reservoirs nation-wide with a view to ensuring the safety of residents downstream.

The command came from Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, stating that hydro-power plants would be required to cease operations if residents in lowlands were threatened by dams or reservoirs that were substandard.

People's Committees of provinces and cities were required to tighten safety controls on dams and reservoirs under their management, he said.

Hai assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to co-operate with relevant ministries and agencies to submit to the Government a draft of amended Decree 72/2007 on dam safety management.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Construction has been required to review and add regulations on managing hydro-power plant dam construction quality.

Statistics from the ministry showed the country now had 7,000 hydro-power plants and irrigation dams.

In a related move, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed to the Government that operations be ceased at 324 small hydro-power plants nation-wide whose dams were deemed to be substandard.

At a conference on Sunday in HCM City, most scientists said proposed hydro-power plant projects 6 and 6A in southern Dong Nai Province should be removed from the national power development plan because of their possible impacts on environment and society. — VNS