Rain forecast brings cheer to languishing Hoa Binh dam

 (Vietnam News 02/06/2005)

Hanoi-The water level has risen marginally in the Hoa Binh Reservoir, site of the country’s largest hydroelectricity plant, but continues to languish below the dead storage level.

The 0.15m increase has taken the level in the dam-situated in the northern mountains province of Hoa Binh-to 78.51m against the dead level of 80m.

Meanwhile, the Hong (Red) River in Ha Noi was glowing yesterday at 2.24m. For 10 days before that, the water level had been 2.12m on average, the lowest level since 1980.

Deputy Director of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Nguyen Lan Chau predicted more rains in the north, beginning today.

It will be heaviest in the upper reaches of the Da River, which supplies water to the Hoa Binh Reservoir, helping raise the dam’s water level above the dead storage level.

Chau also predicted that the rains would be more plentiful than last year.-VNS