VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City's People's Committee plans to relocate more than 4,400 households living in slums along canals this year.

Vice-chairman of the committee, Nguyen Huu Tin, said that to create capital for the job, the municipal Department of Construction and district-level authorities should make sure there was enough money in the resettlement land fund.

Figures from the municipal Department of Construction show that by the end of last year, HCM City had relocated more than 10,350 households along urban canals in District 4,5,6,7,8,11,12, and in Binh Tan, Tan Binh, Tan Phu, Go Vap, Binh Thanh, Thu Duc and Binh Chanh districts.

This was equivalent to 70 per cent of the city's plan to relocate 15,000 slums.

The plan will provide extra green and clean living space for residents living near the canals. The projects of cleaning and upgrading canals including Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe, Tan Hoa-Lo Gom, Hang Bang, Tham Luong-Ben Cat-Rach Nuoc Len have improved the environment.

Nguyen Van Thanh, a resident of Binh Thanh District, said he had lived along Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe for many years. He said it used to be dirty and full of garbage.

After the canal was cleaned and slum households were relocated, the canal had become a recreation area for residents.

According to the construction department, site clearance and resettlement of slum households is behind schedule due to a shortage of investment capital.

The city stopped granting State budget funds for the programme early in 2008, slowing down the programme further, it added.

Investors showed little interest in the projects as site clearance was costly and there was only low profits for investors.

The construction department added that there should have favourable policies to attract more investors in this field.

VNS