Ho Chi Minh City spends more than 17,000 billion VND to renovate two large canals

The People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City has just approved the investment policy for two dredging, environmental improvement and urban beautification projects at Ba Lon and Ong Be canals with a total capital of more than 17,000 billion VND. The projects aim to clear the main drainage system, handle long-term pollution and relocate people living along the canals to safer places.

Specifically, at the 5th session on the morning of November 14, the People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City approved a Resolution on the investment policy of the project "Dredging, improving the environment combined with urban embellishment of the Ba Lon canal drainage axis", with a total investment of more than VND 9,228 billion, to clear one of the seven main drainage axes and resolve the pollution and encroachment on both sides of the canal that has existed for many years.

Delegates vote to pass draft resolutions. Photo: VIET DUNG

The project is invested by the Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board, implemented in Binh Dong Ward and Binh Hung Commune. The total capital of more than VND 9,228 billion is allocated for compensation, support, resettlement; construction costs; project management; consulting; other costs and contingency.

The city plans to allocate VND5 billion in the 2021-2025 period, and more than VND9,223 billion in the 2026-2030 period to implement the entire project. The project will be implemented from 2025 and completed in 2030, in which the 2026-2029 period will focus on establishing and appraising the feasibility study report, site clearance, design, contractor selection and construction.

Regarding this project, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee stated that Ba Lon canal plays a role in storing water and transporting water from the city center to the South through the Doi canal. Current reality shows that along both banks of the canal, from Ba Tang bridge to Binh Dong communal house and the area near Highway 50, the encroachment of houses has narrowed the flow. Household waste and untreated wastewater are dumped directly into the canal, causing serious environmental pollution, affecting the lives of surrounding residents and spoiling the urban beauty. In addition, wastewater from production facilities, especially in the food processing industry, continues to increase the level of organic pollution along the entire route.

Not only is it polluted, many sections of the canal banks currently lack solid protection, posing a risk of landslides. Investment in dredging, environmental improvement and urban beautification along the entire route is “very necessary and urgent”. When implemented, the project will contribute to relocating all households living on and along the canal, from makeshift, unsafe conditions, to more stable housing, improving the quality of life and ensuring social security.

At the same time, the HCMC People's Council also passed a Resolution on investment in the project "Dredging, improving the environment combined with urban beautification of the Ong Be canal drainage axis and branch canals". The project has a total investment of more than 7,785 billion VND from the city budget, aiming to handle the prolonged flooding situation, improve the surface water environment and relocate houses along the canal for urban beautification.

The project is invested by the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board, implemented in Chanh Hung Ward and Binh Hung Commune. The total capital includes expenses for compensation, support, resettlement, construction costs, project management, construction investment consultancy, other costs and reserves. The city plans to allocate 5 billion VND in the 2021-2025 period and more than 7,780 billion VND for the 2026-2030 period.

According to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Ong Be canal and its branches are silting up, garbage is piling up, and many houses are encroaching on the canal bed, causing the flow to narrow and often giving off a foul smell. The drainage capacity of the area is seriously reduced, and flooding occurs every time it rains, especially in Chanh Hung ward and Binh Hung commune. Investing in the project is a key solution to prevent flooding, improve the environment and ensure safety for people.

CAM NUONG - AUTUMN HUONG - NGO BINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-chi-hon-17000-ty-dong-cai-tao-hai-tuyen-rach-lon-post823298.html