The authority of HCMC has written to the Government seeking permission to select an independent foreign consulting agency to monitor the implementation and quality of a big-ticket anti-flood project.

The project to cope with tide-triggered flooding is being conducted by Trung Nam Group with an investment of nearly VND10 trillion (US$448.4 million) in phase one and is scheduled to be complete in mid-2018. 

HCMC vice chairman Le Van Khoa who visited the construction site of the project on October 4 hailed the investor’s effort to put the project on fast track. A number of components like its sluice have been constructed since work started on the project in June.    

Khoa said the investor must ensure the quality of the project. It is expected to help reduce flooding in an area of 570 square kilometers with a population of 6.5 million people on the right side of the Saigon River and downtown area.

He said the foreign consulting agency will coordinate with departments, agencies and districts to supervise construction work.  

Khoa stressed that millions of city dwellers will keep a close eye on this project after it is complete.

He told the HCMC Steering Center of the Urban Flood Control Program to cooperate with departments and agencies to build sewers to carry water from inner-city districts to pumping stations before it flows into rivers.

Nguyen Tam Tien, general director of Trung Nam Group, said earlier that the project will help cope with flooding in the areas benefiting from the project. He noted chronic flooding in the city will be solved if its drainage systems, coupled with the construction work, are able to transport water to canals and then rivers.  

The enterprise has 36 months to complete the project but plans to shorten the time to 24 months so that it can have enough time for a test run.

The project comprises six tide control sluices with 40-160 meters in width: Ben Nghe, Tan Thuan, Phu Xuan, Muong Chuoi, Cay Kho and Phu Dinh. A number of pumping stations will be built as well.

The investor will build an embankment along the Saigon River section between Vam Thuat and Kinh rivers and 25 small sluices in an area from the Vam Thuat River to Muong Chuoi. 

The project covers some 100 hectares in districts 1, 4, 7, 8, Nha Be and Binh Chanh. More than 300 households will be relocated to make room for the project.

SGT