The city government will take drastic measures to remove homes that have illegally encroached on canals in a bid to improve the drainage system and control floods, vice chairman of the city Tran Vinh Tuyen said.



HCMC vice chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen (L) is seen during a trip to Nha Be District to inspect illegal encroachment on canals and sewers


The city has set a target of removing nearly 20,000 makeshift homes along the city’s canals in the next five years, Tuyen said last week when inspecting canal encroachment and land reclamation in the city.

All that clogs the city’s drainage system must be cleared, Tuyen said, adding protection of underground and drainage works in the city remains weak as some districts have issued land use certificates for land reserved for drainage works.

Statistics showed nearly 10,000 houses in District 8 and around 2,200 others in District 7 have encroached on canals.

The city government will clear all the houses though the job is tough, Tuyen said, adding the city will develop a consistent system of sewers and enhance management of flood control.

The city needs hefty capital for urban infrastructure works including those for flood control by 2025. It will raise funds from different sources.

SGT