The Cai Be sluice gate and its boat lock on the Cai Be River were put into temporary operation on Friday to prevent saline intrusion in Kien Giang Province and other localities in the Mekong Delta region.

Construction on the sluice gate has been basically competed after 15 months since its ground-breaking ceremony in November 2019, with only a few works expected to follow suit in 2021.

This is considered a 'super irrigation project’ in the region with an investment of about VND3.3 trillion (US$143,38 million) in the first and about VND2.5 trillion ($108.62 million) in the second phase from government bonds.

The Cai Be sluice gate project is pictured in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 5, 2021. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The project is meant to solve the problem of saline intrusion in the dry season in provinces such as Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang.

According to the People's Committee of Kien Giang, at present, the water level at the watershed stations of the Cuu Long River and inland fields in the province drops rapidly, but equivalent to the average of the same period in previous years.

The Cai Be sluice gate project is pictured in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 5, 2021. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

On the Cai Be River, the 4-per-thousand salinity has penetrated for 28km to Long Thanh Commune in Giong Rieng District. 

On the Cai Lon River, salinity of the same level has spread 22km to Thoi Quan Commune in Go Quao District.

The temporary operation of the Cai Be sluice gate is expected help control brackish water in about 20,000 hectares of productive land in Kien Giang.

The Cai Be sluice gate project is pictured in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 5, 2021. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The Cai Be sluice gate project is pictured in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 5, 2021. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

Engineers work at the Cai Be sluice gate project in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 5, 2021. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The Cai Be sluice gate project is pictured in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 5, 2021. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

An engineer works at the Cai Be sluice gate project in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 5, 2021. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The Cai Be sluice gate project is pictured in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, February 5, 2021. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

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