Problems arise from flood control

HCM City (VNA) - Construction on hundreds of flood control projects has blocked city sewers, which has worsened flooding during times of heavy rain, Ho Chi Minh City officials have said.

Nguyen Ngoc Cong, deputy director of the city management centre on
controlling floods, said construction and installation of drainage systems
was preventing the flow of water in some sewers.

For example, digging on Tran Quoc Thao Street where the Nhieu Loc-Thi
Nghe canal project is taking place has caused unprecedented flooding on
nearby streets.

During heavy rains last week, 54 areas, including District 1, were flooded
under 0.1-1.6 metres of water.

The city said more drainage works were expected on an additional 81 streets.

Le Toan, deputy director of the Department of Transport and Communication,
has urged contractors to speed up construction on the projects and has asked
project management boards to unclog the stream flow of canals, tributaries,
and drainage systems.

The city has also urged local residents to not throw garbage on streets or
in sewers.

Nguyen Hong Tien, a senior official at the Ministry of Construction, said
despite the current problems the drainage projects would ultimately solve
the city's flooding problems.

The city is currently working on four large projects funded with Official
Development Assistance from foreign donors.

The works, with a total investment of 800 million USD, include the Nhieu
Loc-Thi Nghe canal drainage project and the Hang Bang irrigation canal
drainage project, both of which are expe