07/09/2018
PM issues advice in wake of Nam Ngum floods.......
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith yesterday stressed the safety of local people when he visited flood-hit areas alongside the Nam Ngum River in Vientiane province.
Mr Thongloun expressed his concern for local residents’ safety when he met with provincial authorities to explore the flooded area downstream of the Nam Ngum 1 dam.
He also met with the operators of the dam to learn how they manage the discharge of water from the reservoir. According to the operators, the water recently released from the dam had contributed about 60 percent of the floodwater.
The floods have inundated 11 villages in Thoulakhom district, namely Hadsuan, Tanpiew, Choom, Souksala, Chaeng, Lingxan, Hadsiew, Phonpheng, Boungphao, Hadxay, and Keunneua, and about 1,400 families of 7,000 people have been affected.
According to a report from the provincial authorities, the flooding, which began on August 30, had affected 9,000 buffalos, 30,000 cattle, 15,000 pigs, 5,000 goats, and 550,000 chickens.
Some 3 million fingerlings had been lost from 125 flooded fish farms.
In addition, 1,700 hectares of rice fields, 500 hectares of sweetcorn, 268 hectares of cattle pasture, and 500 hectares of other crops were damaged.
Twelve schools have had to postpone their activities.
“We have to use all our resources to help save lives and evacuate people to safe places,” Mr Thongloun said, adding that as much property as possible should also be recovered.
With regard to schools, he suggested that tents be used as temporary classrooms.
He instructed the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to coordinate with its provincial and district divisions to arrange shelters and food for displaced families.
The prime minister also stressed the need to prevent the spread of disease.
A lack of appropriate equipment has made it difficult to move livestock to safety, especially large cattle which can weigh up to 400 kilograms.
Mr Thongloun advised the authorities to obtain large boats from national defence personnel to help with the recovery effort.
The reservoir at the Nam Ngum 1 dam is full when the water reaches its full supply level at 212.3 metres and contains 7.1 billion cubic metres of water.
The dam stores water that flows from the Nam Ngum 2 dam, the Nam Xong river and other water sources.
Last month the water level in the dam exceeded the full supply level, meaning that the spillways had to be opened. On August 12, water was discharged at the rate of 148.5 cubic metres per second.
The spillways were opened wider on September 4 when the water flowed at the rate of 1,720.6 cubic metres per second, with the latest flow rate recorded at 1,532.3 cubic metres per second.
Mr Thongloun advised the management to set up better coordination with upstream dams from which water flows into the Nam Ngum 1 reservoir, so that the situation could be better regulated and the impact on people living downstream would be minimised.
He also suggested creating a hydropower dam fund to help people who are affected by dams and have to suffer the consequences of their presence.
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith yesterday stressed the safety of local people when he visited flood-hit areas alongside the Nam Ngum River in Vientiane province.
