Illustrative photo (Source: english.vietnamnet.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – The capital city of Hanoi has many areas which become waterlogged during heavy rain because of its outdated and overloaded drainage system, reported the Kinh Te & Do Thi (Economy & City) Newspaper.
In recent years, the city has grown significantly, with the formation of many new urban centres and industrial parks, as well as a rapidly increasing population.
However, investment in drainage infrastructure has not kept pace with development, while abnormal weather poses challenges to the sewer system, the paper said.
Figures from Hanoi’s Department of Construction show that there are 19 waterlogging hotspots on main roads and 180 areas on small streets and lanes across the city.
The current drainage system is designed for rainfall of up to 100mm. Along with low drainage capacity, the system has also deteriorated over the years. This means that many roads are quickly flooded during heavy rain.
The city’s drainage facility of 0.46m per person was much lower than world standard of 2m per capita.
Construction of infrastructure has reduced irrigation reservoirs and areas of pervious ground, exacerbating the city’s waterlogging problem, said the paper.
Associated Prof. Dr. Mai Thi Lien Huong, director of the Infrastructure Department under the Ministry of Construction, said that “at present, the city’s drainage system consisted of sewers, canals, lakes, rivers and pumping stations, providing drainage for the inner city and irrigation for agricultural production.”
“In general, the system was degraded and overloaded, causing local flooding during heavy rain,” Huong was quoted as saying.
Hoang Mai Huong, an official from Hanoi’s construction department, said the waterlogging was due to the overlapping implementation of drainage work.
“At present, a drainage area was operated and maintained by several units. This was not effective,” said Huong.
The local government has not yet issued regulations or sanctions for violations which have caused difficulties for management work, she said.
The city’s drainage system consists of three main regions – east and west of the Day River, and north Hanoi, spanning 47,300ha, 31,300ha and 46,700ha, respectively.
The drainage to the east of the Day River region was to pump water to the Hong, Nhue and Day Rivers, while water flows automatically via the west of the Day River region to the rivers Tich, Day and Bui.
And in the north Hanoi region, water discharges to the Hong, Duong and Ca Lo Rivers.
Over recent years, the city has implemented many projects to tackle flooding, such as the second phase of the inner city To Lich River basin to ensure rain water drainage of 310cu.m per hour for rivers and 70mm per hour for culverts, and projects to restore 11 ponds in the city.
However, to solve the problem, the city needs to consider hi-tech methods in drainage.
“Hanoi needs to think about software to manage drainage facilities, including matters of asset management, operation, maintenance and data collection,” the expert said.
The city should have policies to attract investment in drainage projects with ODA funds or under public-private partnership (PPP), she said.
It is also necessary to stop people littering in sewers, canals and rivers, Huong said.-VNS/VNA
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