Many parts of HCMC continue to suffer from floods caused by heavy rains and high tides, although the city launched a flood control program nearly 10 years ago with huge investments.

Floods remain a major concern for residents of HCMC 

At a “Listen and Discuss" dialogue held by the HCMC People’s Council this week, delegates mentioned flood-prone sites in the city, including Huynh Tan Phat Street in District 7, Cay Tram and Phan Huy Ich Streets in Go Vap District and Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh District.

The city expects to be well-equipped to fight floods by 2020, but the problem seems to be worsening by the day.

The HCMC Steering Center of the Urban Flood Control Program explained that due to severe floods, the drainage systems in the city had been overloaded and could not cope with downpours of more than 100 millimeters as large antiflooding projects have lagged behind schedule due to the lack of capital.

Nguyen Hoang Anh Dung, deputy director of the HCMC Steering Center, said HCMC was one of the 10 cities worst hit by climate change. This year, tides have reached up to 1.71 meters high.

In addition, a fast-growing population has hindered investment in water drainage systems in Districts 12, 9 and Hoc Mon. Existing water drainage systems can meet only 45% of the demand.

Dung also attributed floods to garbage-filled rivers and canals that are rarely dredged.

After 17 years, the city has mapped out detailed plans on rainwater drainage only in the downtown area, Dung noted, adding that forecasts on the impact of climate change remain inaccurate.

A representative of the municipal Department of Transport echoed the view of the HCMC Steering Center on the causes of these floods.

Meanwhile, no agencies claim responsibility for the problem, and whatever little cooperation there is among relevant agencies to execute antiflooding projects is ineffective.

According to the Urban Committee under the HCMC People’s Council, floods in alleys and residential areas have yet to be reported adequately, even as floods in the city tend to last longer, sometimes up to a week.

A resident of Binh Tan District claimed Kinh Duong Vuong and Ho Ngoc Lam Streets and Binh Tri Dong and Binh Tri Dong A Wards had been subject to severe floods after prolonged heavy rains and proposed the installation of water pumps in these areas. Meanwhile, a resident of District 9 noted that the district covered a low-lying area, so its streets, such as Nguyen Duy Trinh and Nguyen Xien Streets, were easily inundated after the rains.

According to the HCMC People’s Council, the city needs nearly VND97.3 trillion (US$4.2 billion) for programs to combat floods, climate change and rising sea levels in the 2016-2020 period. Of this, nearly VND23 trillion has been invested in projects, while the remaining VND74.35 trillion will be mobilized from the city’s budget, the State budget and private resources.

HCMC currently has many flood-prone areas, and the local people are awaiting the completion of various antiflooding projects.

SGT