Almost all the erosion prevention projects in Ho Chi Minh City have slowed down due to lack of funds, causing great anxiety to local residents.
In the SGGP photo, houses are falling into river in Thanh Da Island, Binh Thanh District in August 2010.
The riverbank landslides have gone unchecked and local residents fear that their homes and properties along the river will be lost unless something is done about it immediately.
According to the HCM City Waterway Area, since early this year, at least 45 locations in the city faced a grave risk of landslides. In 2010, there were only 42 locations at risk but now the riverbank erosion is escalating rapidly and there could be further loss of property.
Most of the erosion prevention projects are currently on hold as they await funds.
Presently only two erosion prevention projects at Phuoc Long and along Rach Tom bridge are ongoing, since 2009.
A riverbank fortification construction project on the Rach Doi River began late last year but has now stopped because the city failed to give the VND4 billion (US$200,000) needed to proceed.
Work on the Phu Xuan River bank in Nha Be District started last December and has also stopped halfway as only VND8 billion of the promised VND18 billion has been disbursed.
Lack of funds has also kept three similar projects along the Thanh Da Canal in Binh Thanh District from taking off, though the projects are considered strategically important by the city Transport Department.
Severe land erosion threatens residents on the Thanh Da Canal every rainy season but only one project has been implemented there, which still owes VND8 billion to the constructors.
According to Tran Van Giau, deputy director of the HCMC Waterway Area, city authorities temporarily halted investment to new projects in 2011 due to high inflation. Hence, all projects expected to start construction this year have been delayed.
The city Waterway Area and the city Department of Transport proposed to city Peoples’ Committee to provide funds to implement the project along Thanh Da Canal in Binh Thanh District. To prevent landslides in the coming rain season, the city authorities asked departments to check areas that were most at risk.
The city also plans to control the river current, by planting trees and obstructing the tidal flow of the river. People are also being discouraged from constructing any accommodation along the riverbanks.
