This will be a huge project capitalized at $1.266 billion. Along with the multi-function dyke system, the Dutch experts have proposed organizing activities to create revenue, such as golf courses, parking lots, shops, entertainment areas and a conference center.

Nguyen Van Duc, deputy director of Dat Lanh Real Estate, said HCM City needs comprehensive solutions to flooding, not just several separate projects.

He said flood prevention has relations to urban planning, irrigation planning and canal improvement. In order to settle the problem, many measures need to be implemented at the same time.

In addition, if heavy rainfall and high tidesoccur at the same time, the volume of water will cause flooding because the water drainage system is too old.

HCM City authorities have taken steps, including repair of the sewer system, dredging of the Nhieu Loc Canal, installing high-capacity pump and upgrading the bed of roads. But problems remain. 

HCM City authorities have taken steps, including repair of the sewer system, dredging of the Nhieu Loc Canal, installing high-capacity pump and upgrading the bed of roads. But problems remain.

“The rivers and canals in the city, which served as drainage systems, are filled up. The rivers and canals have been cleared to make room for real estate works and high-rise buildings. That is the major reason behind the floods, ” Duc said.

The strong rise of concrete construction works has blocked water drainage flow. As there is no outlet, it leads to flooding.

While canals and rivers have been filled up, the unreasonable urban development programming, with the lack of water reservoirs, worsens flooding.

According to Duc, water reservoirs play an important role in urban life. In other countries, such as Japan and France, there are water reservoirs in each area and urban areas which help store water and prevent floods.

An analyst, commenting about measures taken by the municipal authorities, said the measures are not enough to prevent floods.

The city authorities, for example, dredged Nhieu Loc Canal, but the canal alone is not enough to rescue a huge urban area like HCM City.

Thanh Lich 

HCM City's flood prevention projects need to be reworked: experts

HCM City's flood-prevention plans should be focused more on the inner city and be closely linked to overall urban planning, experts have said.

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Nearly VND23 trillion has been spent to combat flooding in HCMC during the 2008-2018 period, but antiflooding efforts remain ineffective.  

“One canal or one high-capacity pump installed on Nguyen Huu Can street won’t be enough to settle such a big problem,” he said.