Speaking to a VietNamNet reporter on the sidelines of the Hanoi City People's Council meeting, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan, Secretary of Ha Dong District, discussed the land clearance for the La Khe canal to supply water to the Yen Nghia pumping station and the handover of the La Khe market land.

According to the Secretary of Ha Dong District, the district is determined to hand over the land for La Khe Market as reported, as well as the land for the investment project to renovate the drainage system in the western area of ​​Hanoi (Yen Nghia drainage pumping station), as soon as possible.

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Despite repeated requests from Ha Dong district authorities to close the La Khe market, it continues to operate. Photo: Quang Phong

Regarding La Khe Market – the entire land area of ​​La Khe Market is subject to expropriation for the project to improve the drainage system in western Hanoi (Yen Nghia pumping station) – the Secretary of Ha Dong District stated that he will request the District People's Committee to report clearly on the progress of handling this market.

Also on the sidelines of the Hanoi City People's Council meeting, Mr. Pham Xuan Dai, Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that relevant units regularly work with Ha Dong district regarding the Yen Nghia pumping station project. Ha Dong will continue to enforce land clearance for this project in the near future.

The project to improve the drainage system in the western area of ​​Hanoi includes the Yen Nghia pumping station and the La Khe water channel. The project commenced in late 2015 with a total investment of 7,466 billion VND. After 5 years of construction, the Yen Nghia pumping station was completed in January 2020, with 10 pumping units and a capacity of 120 m³/second.

Nearly four years after its completion, the 10 pumping units with a capacity of 120 m³/s have not been operating at full capacity, even though western Hanoi has experienced severe flooding on numerous occasions. The reason for the Yen Nghia pumping station's "water shortage" during Hanoi's flooding is the slow progress of the La Khe canal project and the difficulties encountered in land clearance.

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The Yen Nghia pumping station has been "thirsty" for many years due to the incomplete La Khe canal. Photo: Quang Phong

Although the La Khe canal has been under construction for many years, it remains a chaotic construction site. Many houses belonging to local residents have not yet been cleared and handed over to the canal construction unit.

Last November, Ha Dong district issued another document requesting the Van Khe Service Cooperative to cease business operations and exploitation of La Khe market and surrounding unauthorized business locations, and to hand over the land to the investor of the Yen Nghia drainage pumping station.

Many sections of the market are unauthorized extensions and encroachments. According to our reporter's observations, in early December 2024, the La Khê wholesale market was still bustling with activity, with dozens of large and small trucks entering and exiting. Stalls selling shrimp, fish, duck, chicken, etc., were still operating briskly.

A 7.466 billion VND pumping station in Hanoi has been waiting for a water channel for 4 years.

A 7.466 billion VND pumping station in Hanoi has been waiting for a water channel for 4 years.

Completed in 2020, the Yen Nghia pumping station, with a total investment of 7,466 billion VND, is still operating intermittently despite frequent flooding in western Hanoi whenever it rains. The reason is that more than 2km of the La Khe water canal remains unfinished.
Hanoi residents demolish their houses and hand over their land for the construction of the La Khê canal to supply water to the Yên Nghĩa pumping station.

Hanoi residents demolish their houses and hand over their land for the construction of the La Khê canal to supply water to the Yên Nghĩa pumping station.

In recent days, many households in Quang Trung ward (Ha Dong district) have dismantled their houses, moved their belongings, and handed over their land to allow Hanoi City to expedite the construction of the La Khe canal to supply water to the Yen Nghia pumping station.
Hanoi: Wholesale market on land designated for irrigation projects remains bustling despite closure order.

Hanoi: Wholesale market on land designated for irrigation projects remains bustling despite closure order.

More than two weeks after the order to cease business and exploitation, stalls selling fish, shrimp, chicken, and duck at the La Khê wholesale market are still operating bustlingly on land designated for irrigation works belonging to the Yên Nghĩa pumping station.