Flood prevention has been one of biggest preoccupations of Ho Chi Minh City authorities. Many projects have been behind schedule, therefore, city needs to quickly complete anti-flood projects.
Flood is caused by high tide. residents at Me Coc, District 8 always face flood tide.(Photo:SGGP)
A meeting was held in the city on October 27 to discuss about anti-flood measures.
Participants included Secretary of the city Party Committee Le Thanh Hai, Chairman of the city People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan, Deputy Chairman of the city People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Tai and representatives from the city’s districts and wards.
At the meeting, director of the city's Steering Centre for Flood Prevention Nguyen Phuoc Thao said that anti-flood work is facing difficulties such as changeable weather and high tide.
In addition, infrastructure works in the city are degrading, which leads to obstruction of drainage systems and circulation of surface water, Mr. Thao added.
Sluggish drainage system improving constructions are negatively affecting existing drainage systems. One of them is the city’s environmental project dredging Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe channel which runs through the inner city.
House building constructions of residents also prevent water flow in drainage systems with sands and debris. Additionally, existing drainage sewers were broken or their discharging gates were blocked.
The city authorities are carrying out a large-scale works such as construction new sewers, repair of existing drainage systems, excavation of canals, and reinforcement of the banks and demolition of housing built on piles. However, some irrigation and water drainage projects, considered urgent, are behind schedule, so city continues to suffer many serious floods.
To reduce flooding effectively, Mr. Thao said that the city needs to finish the Ben Nghe- Tau Hu, Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe and Tham Luong – Ben Cat canal dredging projects and flood control dyke systems as soon as possible.
The city also should strengthen checking drainage systems and remove materials which cause obstruction to water flow, Mr. Thao added.
Furthermore, inspectors of the city’s Department of Transport should strengthen their inspection and punishments building and road constructions blocking water flow of river system of the inner city.
The city needs to direct the contractors and investors to resolve the situation.
City should ask authorities of districts to quickly complete unfinished works for preventing and combating floods and storms and make regular checks on these works, especially those in areas that have high risk, to prevent dikes from breaking, Mr. Thao said.
