Tens of thousands of people live along Xuyen Tam canal, which has become polluted with litter and waste discharged by many households living nearby. —VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Vy

The People's Committee has told five districts where the canals are located to strictly handle illegal encroachment and littering and to step up inspections of the canals.

Le Thi Thanh, 63, a resident living near the Xuyen Tam canal, which traverses Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts, told Người Lao Động (Labour) newspaper that the canal had a foul smell and had been polluted for years.

Authorities should develop specific plans to clean up and upgrade the canals, she said.

The Xuyen Tam canal connects the Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe canal and Vam Thuat River and has a total length of 6.21 kilometres.

There are tens of thousands of people living along the canal.

A representative of the People's Committee of Binh Thanh District said it would increase public awareness about the need to stop littering into the canal.

According to the city’s Department of Construction, illegal encroachments exist on 35 canals in the city, although the number has fallen significantly compared to 2017.

Encroachment affects water flow, and causes flooding and landslides. It also makes it more difficult to build water supply and drainage systems, and fire protection systems.

Cleanup will occur on the Hy Vong canal in Tan Binh District, Xuyen Tam canal in Binh Thanh-Go Vap District, Binh Thai canal in Thu Duc District, Nhay-Ruot Ngua canal in District 8, and Bau Trau canal in District 6 and Tan Phu District.

HCM City still suffers from polluting canals

There are about 20,000 households living along HCM City's canals and channels. The wastewater is discharged directly into the environment and causes severe pollution in Vietnam’s most populous city.  

HCM City takes steps to reduce pollution in canal networks

HCM City's People’s Committee has taken several steps to solve pollution in four canals in HCM City's Thu Duc District and District 9.

VNS