The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho is determined to fulfill a wastewater treatment project by the end of this year after a 7-year delay.

At a March 18 meeting with representatives from the Germany-based KFW Development Bank , Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thi Hong Anh said the project must be completed in time “ at any cost”.

The 18-million-EUR project, funded by the German Government, aims to collect and treat urban wastewater discharged by local people.

With a designed capacity of 30,000 cubic metre per day, it includes three key works such as the Can Tho wastewater treatment plant whose contractor, the Warotec-Haweicco joint venture, has completed only 74 percent of the work.

Barriers in administrative formalities together with escalation of prices of construction materials and increasing labour costs hindered the progress of the project.

Meanwhile, KFW representatives blamed the contractor for its poor operation, adding that the bank will offer an aid equivalent to 8 percent of the price hike if the investor pledges to complete the project this year.

Anh said the slow progress of the project has deprived other investors in the city of their opportunities, and asked the municipal Department of Planning and Investment to scrutinise the KFW’s proposal and collaborate closely with relevant agencies to finish the project.-VNA