District 4 reported fund shortage for site clearance of the anti-flooding reservoir project at Khanh Hoi Park which has progressed too slowly, while Tan Binh District said construction of a 10,000 cubic meter reservoir at Bau Cat Park unnecessary and costly on Wednesday.
They were reporting to the Economics and Budget Committee under the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council and authorized agencies during field trips to supervise the progress of the two reservoir projects.
Chairman of District 4 People’s Committee Tran Hoang Quan said that the district has implemented the 4.8 hectare reservoir project to regulate floodwaters after heavy rains and high tides since 2004.
They are now still under the third phase starting in 2010 to revoke 21,583 square meters of land but short of VND300 billion (US$13.45 million) for compensation and resettlement to 94 households. The fourth phase withdrawing 52,746 meters have yet to begin.
The district has worked with the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research to establish a pre-feasibility report for the reservoir project, which is expected to start in 2017.
District 4 has proposed the city People’s Committee to assist VND650 billion (US$29.23 million) for site clearance.
On the same day’s afternoon, the committee worked on the progress of the reservoir at Bau Cat Park in Tan Binh district, which is expected to be built underground to accumulate about 10,000 cubic meters of rainwater at a total cost of VND50 billion (US$2.45 million).
Tan Binh District said that the city has upgraded roads and improved the drainage system along Dong Den, Pham Phu Thu, Hong Lac streets and Tan Hoa-Lo Gom Canal.
Thanks to these works, it was not submerged after torrential downpours in September which badly inundated many other parts of the city. Besides, the district has seen no new flooded spots so far.
Moreover, the Steering Center for Urban Flood Control Program has had projects to improve the drainage system along Ba Van, Bau Cat and Truong Cong Dinh streets from 2016-2020. These projects will be synchronously connected to Tan Hoa-Lo Gom Cannal to drain floodwaters in the area.
Therefore, the reservoir’s construction amid an existing residential area is unnecessary and costly. This fund should be for other localities with worse flooding, the district proposed.
Most delegates agreed with reconsidering the feasibility of the project and giving priority to building reservoirs in other flood-hit places.
