VietNamNet Bridge – The HCMC government plans to spend VND9.85 trillion (over US$438 million) constructing a number of flood tide control sluices and seven kilometers of dyke in different parts of the city to mitigate flooding in inner-city areas.

"...flooding would heavily affect economic growth and the lives of local citizens if the city government finds no effective solutions" – File photo

According to the Steering Center for Urban Flood Control Program, work will start later this year on six large sluices, 68 smaller ones and a dyke along the Saigon River.

The sluices are scheduled for completion after two years of construction and will be financed by loans totaling VND9.85 trillion approved by the Prime Minister, the center’s director Nguyen Ngoc Cong told reporters on the sidelines of the HCMC government meeting on Tuesday.

Cong said the city is seeking financial aid from the World Bank for two big sluices, Vam Thuat and Nuoc Len Canal, as part of a major plan to upgrade 31 flood-prone sites in the inner-city area next year.

Apart from the sluices, the city will build and upgrade sewers in hopes that the flood-prone sites could be erased by 2018, Cong said.

Torrential rain on September 15 submerged many street sections of Nguyen Van Qua, Kinh Duong Vuong, Me Coc, Nguyen Huu Canh, Pham Van Dong and Hanoi Highway.

Cong said Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh District is being upgraded while construction of a drainage system along An Duong Vuong Street is scheduled for completion by the end of this year.

HCMC vice chairman Nguyen Huu Tin said flooding is attributed to higher-than-expected rainfalls and flood tides in inner-city areas through Saigon, Dong Nai and Vam Co rivers as well as estuaries and 68 canals. Therefore, the city expects the building of new sluices and embankment sections and the upgrade of the water drainage system are among the flood control solutions.

Experts from Taiwan, Germany and Japan at the meeting sounded an alarm bell over the flooding situation in the city as seen after heavy rain in mid-September.

The downpour submerged 77 streets in the city, including Nguyen Huu Canh, Kinh Duong Vuong, Go Dua, Do Xuan Hop, La Xuan Oai and Ho Van Tu.

A Taiwanese expert in flood control said flooding would heavily affect economic growth and the lives of local citizens if the city government finds no effective solutions.

SGT