HCM City (VNA) - Politburomember and Secretary of HCM City’s Party Committee Dinh La Thang has asked thecontractor for the city’s tidal flood control project to complete constructionby April 30, 2018.
He set the date for completion after afact-finding visit to the project site on February 4 to monitor progress of itsfirst phase.
The first phase, carried out under thebuild-operate-transfer model, is estimated to cost nearly 10 trillion VND (450million USD).
The project aims to control tidal flooding andto manage other issues related to climate change within the 570sq.km area ofHCM City and its population of 6.5 million residing near the Sai Gon River andthe city centre.
Six tide-control gates will be built in Ben Nghe,Tan Thuan, Phu Xuan, Muong Chuoi, Cay Kho and Phu Dinh. Three pumping stationswill also be built at Ben Nghe, Tan Thuan and Phu Dinh gates. Dyke sectionstotalling 7.8km will be built along the Sai Gon River.
Thang praised efforts made by the Trung NamGroup, the project’s contractor, saying that the tidal flood-controlproject is a key one for the city. It was a large-scale project involving biginvestments and complicated construction conditions, he said.
He urged the contractor to ensure the quality ofthe construction, safe working conditions, and effective supervision ofconstruction, and design consulting units working round the clock.
To ensure that the project operates effectivelyafter completion, the municipal People’s Committee should connect it with theanti-flooding project being implemented by the city, Thang said. This projectis also invested in by the Trung Nam Group.
Thang also asked the city’s Transport Departmentto manage traffic flow on roads and waterways to assist project constructionand facilitate movement of local residents.
Trung Nam chairman Nguyen Tam Thinh pledged thatthe group will finish the 7.8-km dyke and Ben Nghe gate this year as theyprepare to transfer the project to the city in April 2018.-VNA