HCMC should adopt short-term and long-term solutions concurrently to control flooding, but none of the solutions presented to date are seen as optimal, experts said at a review conference on anti-flooding projects, organized by Tien Phong newspaper today in the city.

The serious flooding situation in HCMC remains unchanged despite the large amount of capital spent and multiple measures adopted to prevent flooding. In this file photo, a road in HCMC is submerged by heavy rain

Addressing the conference, Dr. Le Xuan Bao, head of the Institute for Water and Environment Research, listed the main causes of flooding such as flood tides, floodwaters flowing from upstream areas and heavy rain. Thus, the essence of flood control is to control flood tides and floodwaters from flowing into vulnerable areas.

Bao added that the city has not adopted any optimal anti-flooding solutions so far.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Trong Dan, member of the Vietnam Fluid Power Association, attributed the more serious flooding, particularly flooding in residential areas, to road elevation. Raising the foundations of roads negatively affects low-lying areas and hinders drainage.

Dan highlighted the Kinh Duong Vuong and Nguyen Van Qua streets as examples of failed attempts to fight flooding by raising roads, noting that the road elevation and the replacement of larger sewers could only protect roads from being flooded and not other areas, which goes against anti-flooding efforts.

In addition, underground regulating reservoirs, which are undergoing pilot operations in the city, have yet to address the problem of flooding because of their low holding capacity.

Regarding the installation of a massive water pump, provided by Quang Trung Industry JSC, to combat flooding on Nguyen Huu Canh Street, this measure can only control floods on a single road or in a few residential areas and is considered a short-term solution for a period of 10-15 years.

Therefore, Dan said cooperation among agencies and companies is urgently needed to address the flooding problem. For a long-term solution, the city should map out a master plan detailing anti-flooding measures and strong financial resources.

According to Nguyen Tang Cuong, general director of Quang Trung Industry JSC, the city should build a large drainage system with regulating reservoirs covering three to five hectares of land each.

Commenting on the city’s anti-flooding projects, Cuong said the city has invested a large amount of money, but the outcome has yet to be effective, adding that no individuals or organizations had seriously taken charge of these projects.

Accordingly, Cuong suggested the city call on private firms to launch anti-flooding projects and simultaneously offer them appropriate benefits.

SGT