During high tide season, urban areas are worried about flooding.

Cai Khe boat lock - one of the tidal and flood prevention projects of Can Tho city has been effective. Photo: Phuong Bang

Eight causes of flooding

According to the Department of Construction of Can Tho City, in recent years, the city's flooding has tended to increase in both level and scope. Preliminary flood data measured in the area shows that some roads are deeply flooded such as Hung Vuong Street (0.2m-0.3m), Cach Mang Thang 8 Street (0.2m-0.3m), Residential Area 91B Nguyen Van Linh Street (0.2m-0.3m)... Deep and widespread flooding coincides with the time when the river floods peak and the highest tides occur in September, October and November every year.

Recently, after the merger, the government of Can Tho city (new) conducted a survey to determine the causes and find solutions to overcome flooding and urban traffic congestion. The survey identified eight causes of flooding, including sewers that have not been dredged regularly; insufficient water collection pits; low road elevation; inappropriate elevation difference between the outlet and the internal sewer; encroachment of the outlet and canal; degraded sewer system; incomplete connection of sewers to Can Tho river; ineffective operation of pumping stations due to lack of sanitation and periodic dredging.

Master Ky Quang Vinh, former Chief of Office of Climate Change Work of Can Tho City, said that the city is increasingly prone to flooding because the land is sinking while sea levels rise and there is a lot of rain.

Find effective solutions

In recent times, Can Tho has put forward many initiatives and solutions, but the city's flood prevention work still faces many challenges due to climate change causing extreme rains, increased high tides, and rapid urbanization...

According to forecasts, in the upcoming flood season, the tidal peak may continue to exceed level III, meaning that many central roads will be flooded again. In that context, Can Tho city leaders have repeatedly emphasized the need for fundamental and creative solutions, associated with sustainable urban planning. In addition to receiving initiatives from people, experts and scientists , Can Tho has been implementing many large projects using World Bank loans, focusing on flood control and environmental improvement for the inner city area. The project includes renovating 32 drainage routes, building a 6.14 km long Can Tho river embankment, a 3.6 km long Cai Son-Muong Khai canal embankment, a road connecting Cach Mang Thang 8 street with provincial road 918; building tidal sluices and boat locks combined with tidal sluices (Cai Son and Cai Khe canals), nine tidal sluices on the flood control corridor; renovating the inner city canal system (17 main canals, 16.35 km long); Install pumping stations; modern, synchronous drainage system management equipment system (flood risk management information system - PRMIS). Some items such as Chau Van Liem pumping station, Ho Sen... have been put into trial operation, initially reducing flooding at some central points.

However, according to experts, the project needs to be synchronously combined with community solutions to be effective in the long term. Master Ky Quang Vinh emphasized that it is necessary to find ways to limit land subsidence. Before implementing the projects, the city must conduct thorough research, field surveys, and comprehensively reassess the current situation instead of using old data that is no longer suitable.

Associate Professor, Dr. Le Anh Tuan, an environmental expert at Can Tho University, proposed: To prevent flooding in Can Tho, there must be a comprehensive solution on a regional scale. If it is limited to the city, it will be risky and ineffective.

Flood prevention cannot be just about raising roads or pumping water, it must combine many measures such as sustainable urban planning, smart drainage management, green space development, increasing natural water permeability. It is especially necessary to listen to and accept flood prevention solutions and initiatives from people, experts, and scientists - those who directly live with floods and do research every day.

Minh Hai - Nhat Truong

Source: https://nhandan.vn/mua-trieu-cuong-do-thi-lai-lo-chuyen-ngap-post910375.html