The Steering Committee for Urban Flood Control Prevention in Ho Chi Minh City has successfully implemented a number of measures to curb flooding along several streets that previously were inundated after almost every rainfall.

A flood prevention construction to prevent high tide from flowing into Binh Thanh District (Photo: SGGP)

The Steering Committee made this report at a meeting with the Economic-Budget Committee of the HCMC People’s Council on Tuesday, to discuss flood prevention tasks.

According to the committee, flooding has lessened to a great extent along streets like Go Dua, Quang Trung, Do Xuan Hop, Nguyen Huu Canh, Le Duc Tho, Highway 1A in Thu Duc District and Le Van Sy, which earlier were inundated frequently after a rainfall. 

By clearing 234 kilometers of the sewer route, dredging 1,261km of the sewer pipeline and 6.5km of canals and sluice gates, the committee has been successful in reducing flooding in several crucial areas in the City.

Nguyen Phuoc Thao, director of the steering committee, complained about the complications and delays caused by red tape in the Department of Transport, which was partly to blame for delays in several projects.

The Steering Committee for Urban Flood Control Prevention in HCMC has now proposed to the People’s Committee to urgently issue a specific functional plan for important flood prevention projects for the period 2011-2015. This will motivate investors to speed up projects.