Hanoi Party Secretary Hoang Trung Hai said the city would focus on renovating and cleaning up four rivers in the west of the city that are severely polluted.

To Lich River

The problem was discussed during a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on February 16. Hai said the pollution in Hanoi was severe. According to Hai, the ministry should direct the cleaning project on the Tich, Day, Nhue and To Lich rivers.

Hanoi People's Committee started building the VND116.3trn (USD5.1bn) Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant last October. The plant will have capacity to deal with 273,000 cubic metres a day and will be connected to the To Lich and Lu rivers and a part of Nhue River.

This is the first high capacity waste water treatment plant in Hanoi. It will collect and deal with wastewater from Ba Dinh, Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan, Dong Da, Hoang Mai, Ha Dong and Thanh Tri districts.

Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung emphasised at the ground-breaking ceremony that this was a key project to help revive polluted rivers in the city and move towards sustainable development.

Dtinews