After the rainy season, the construction site of the Nậm Là reservoir (in Mường Nhé commune), part of the Bản Phủ - Nậm Là reservoir cluster project, is filled with a bustling and urgent work atmosphere. Convoys of trucks carrying soil, sand, and materials queue up to enter the site; the sounds of excavators, bulldozers, and compactors echo through the mountains and forests, creating a vivid picture of a project entering its acceleration phase.

Teams of engineers and workers are continuously working on the earth dam, spillway, water intake culvert, and pipeline, with the determination to bring the Nậm Là reservoir into operation soon. Once completed, the Nậm Là reservoir will provide a stable source of irrigation water for agricultural production, ensure domestic water for residents, and contribute to environmental improvement, socio-economic development, and enhancing the lives of people in the border region.

According to the investor’s report, the site clearance for the main project cluster and the reservoir bed has been completed. The provincial People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1105/QĐ-UBND on June 2, 2025, regarding the first phase of land allocation for the construction of the Nậm Là reservoir in Mường Nhé commune. Thanks to the decisive involvement of various units and all levels of government, the total value of construction work for the main project cluster and auxiliary facilities has reached VND 72.27 out of VND 183 billion, equivalent to 39.44% of the contract value. Major components such as the earth dam are 70% complete, with river diversion and dam construction expected by the end of October 2025. The spillway is 83.7% complete, the water intake culvert is 68.45% complete, anti-seepage grouting has reached 91.67%, and the construction road, traffic bridge, and management house are being urgently finished.

Mr. Nguyễn Hữu Hiệp, Director of the provincial Management Board for Agricultural and Rural Development Projects, shared: “We have requested the contractor to mobilize maximum manpower and equipment, and to work overtime to meet the river diversion schedule. The Board is coordinating closely with consulting supervisors and frequently inspecting the site to ensure the project’s quality, safety, and progress. With a sense of urgency, responsibility, and high determination, the construction units are striving every day to complete the Nậm Là reservoir soon.”

Besides accelerating the construction of the main components, relevant units are actively carrying out site clearance to prepare for the pipeline package of the Bản Phủ - Nậm Là reservoir cluster project, aiming to ensure the project is implemented synchronously and on schedule.

Mr. Lê Hồng Thắng, acting Director of the Project Management Board and Land Fund Development for Area 5, stated: “As of September 25, we have verified the land origin for 250 households in 7 villages, out of a total of 391 households in 13 villages affected by the project. The unit has declared and tallied the crops and architectural assets of all 391 households and submitted for appraisal and approval the compensation plan for 81 households with a total cost of VND 2.79 billion. We are continuing to complete the land origin verification, and to prepare and publicize the compensation plans, with the entire site clearance expected to be finished in November 2025. However, the process still faces some difficulties, such as residents working far from home, errors in land use right certificates, boundary disputes, and 15 households who have not yet signed the measurement and ownership records. To resolve these issues, the Board is coordinating closely with local authorities, strengthening communication and mobilizing people to understand the State’s compensation policies, and encouraging them to agree to hand over the land, thus facilitating the early construction of the Nậm Là reservoir pipeline and contributing to the project’s completion to ensure irrigation and domestic water for the people in the project area.”

In recent years, Điện Biên province has consistently identified the management, exploitation, and development of its irrigation system as a key task, contributing to a proactive water supply for agricultural production, disaster prevention, and social security. Along with investing in new reservoir construction, the province pays special attention to the maintenance, repair, and upkeep of existing reservoirs to enhance their operational efficiency and safety. After many years of operation, the reservoirs have shown signs of degradation, requiring measures such as dam body waterproofing, slope reinforcement, canal dredging, and repairs to the water intake systems.

Currently, units are urgently carrying out repairs and upgrades on three reservoirs: Pe Luông, Hồng Khếnh, and Na Hươm. As a public utility company with a crucial role in agricultural production and people’s lives, the Điện Biên Irrigation Management Company Limited has been effectively managing and operating the irrigation system in the province. The company currently directly manages 13 reservoirs, helping to provide a stable water supply for thousands of hectares of agricultural land, serving both production and the daily lives of residents.

Among them, the Pa Khoang reservoir in Mường Phăng commune is a key irrigation project, ensuring water for over 6,096 hectares of agricultural land in the Mường Thanh field, while also regulating water for hydropower plants along the Nậm Rốm river. In addition, reservoirs such as Pe Luông, Hồng Sạt, Hồng Khếnh, Na Hươm, and Sái Lương play an important role in supplying irrigation water for hundreds of hectares of farmland in the communes of Thanh Nưa, Thanh An, Núa Ngam, Mường Nhà, and Tủa Chùa. With a high sense of responsibility, the Điện Biên Irrigation Management Company Limited is contributing to ensuring water security, stabilizing agricultural production, and improving the lives of rural people.

Mr. Đinh Văn Thủy, full-time Chairman of the Điện Biên Irrigation Management Company Limited, said: “The company regularly coordinates with local authorities and agricultural cooperatives to regulate and distribute water reasonably according to each crop season, minimizing water loss and waste. Inspections, dam maintenance, and canal dredging are carried out periodically to ensure the safety and irrigation efficiency of the projects. As a result, the province’s irrigation system has been operating effectively, making a significant contribution to stabilizing production, increasing crop yields, and improving the lives of rural residents.”

With the close attention and guidance of the province and the efforts of construction units, management bodies, and local authorities, the water reservoir projects in the province are gradually being completed, step by step creating a proactive water supply for irrigation and opening a path for sustainable agricultural development.