Tourist boats on Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal in HCM City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) –Ho Chi Minh City will spend 29 trillion VND (1.3 billion USD) for anti-floodingand canal dredging, works and cleaning up its highly polluted canal network.
The money will come fromthe first quarter public investment plan, which was recently announced by theauthorities.
The People’s Committeeinstructs all related authorities, including departments and district People’sCommittees, to fully focus on this task to mitigate the severe pollution in thecity’s canal system, said Tran Vinh Tuyen.
Most canals are covered inrubbish and their water is often black and foul, making them look like sewersrather than canals.
Locals have been livingamidst this for years, suffering from diseases and facing a lot of otherdifficulties.
Tuyen has set a deadline onJuly 31. “All related authorities and investors must sign a commitment that bythe end of July at least 50 percent of the [earmarked amount] must be disbursedand if any office does not achieve the goal, the leader will be penalised,” he said.
He also warned thatdistrict people’s committees, departments and agencies managing public worksshould not tell contractors to begin the work until all the pre-work proceduresare completed to avoid debts.
The People’s Committee hasalso ordered the city Steering Centre of The urban Flood Control Programme,which will manage the programme, to cement the bottoms and banks of majorcanals such as the Trung Uong canal in Hoc Mon and Binh Chanh districts, improvethe water quality in the Tan Hoa – Lo Gom Canal, renovate the sewerage systemin Ba Van street, widen the Lang The Canal in Cu Chi district, and strengthenthe dyke along the Sai Gon River in districts 12, Hoc Mon, and Go Vap.
According to the latesttests by the Department of Natural Resource and Environment, the water in thecity’s canals is severely polluted will all pollution figures far abovepermitted levels.
Dealing with this kind ofpollution is one of the key tasks of the city to ensure a healthy life for itsmillions of citizes.-VNA
VNA
