VietNamNet Bridge – Rains and high tides have blocked drains in many areas in HCM City because of illegal building near canals, sewers, manholes and sluice gates.

Houses have been built along the Chin Xieng Canal in Go Vap District's Ward 5 along a 15-metre section that extends to the downstream area, according to a report in Nguoi Lao Dong (the Labourer) newspaper.

The sewer gate at Residential Zone 13 in this 15-metre section releases waste water into the canal, which is now half of its width.

"The water that flows from the canal into the Vam Thuat River does not drain quickly and flows into the street when there are heavy rains and high tides," said Le Van Dung, a security guard at Residential Zone 13.

The district's local authorities have met many times to discuss the problem but have not come up with a solution.

Similarly, many households have been built along the Ban Don Canal in District 7 on 12, 14, 47 and 79 streets.

The city Urban Drainage Company said illegal encroachment on waterways by houses was one of the main reasons for flooding in the city.

Forty-two canals in the city do not drain waste water well because of the illegal construction.

The city's districts 7, 9 and Thu Duc, Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts have the highest number of canals with illegal construction nearby.

Encroachment has occurred on 11,804 metres of sewer routes, 372 manholes and 40 sluice gates in the city.

The HCM City Steering Centre for the Anti-Flooding Programme said 4,510 metres of sewer routes in District 10 had the most severe problems.

Source: VNS