VietNamNet Bridge
– The HCM City People’s Council meeting opened on
December 7. Many deputies of the HCM
City People’s Council
asked the local government to explain the serious flooding in the city and
verify the responsibilities of the relevant agencies. Below are the opinions of
some deputies about this issue.

Pham Van Hai: The
city made a positive move when it asked relevant agencies to urgently seek
measures to put an end to this problem. However, local residents are very
worried about unqualified water supplies and drainage works, some of which even
caused deaths, but no individual or agency has been punished. I asked an
official of the Department of Transportation and he said that police are still
investigating.

Relevant agencies said that flooding is being improved but I
see that the situation is getting more serious. Previously, floods were only
several decimeters above ground but now flood waters are a meter deep in some
places and often result in traffic jams.

Flood-tide is one of reasons for floods in the city, but I
observed that several years ago the city paid a lot of money to build the dike
of the Saigon River. I don’t know where the money has
gone but the city is still flooded whenever there is a flood-tide.

I propose that the HCM City People’s Committee compile a
specific report on its investment in building dikes. The city paid up to VND40
billion (over $2 million) to build some anti-flooding works and I would like to
know how the investment has benefited the city. This is a great loss!

There are reports which said that the city will no longer
flood by 2020 but it seems to be improbable.

Deputy Dang Van Khoa:
Flooding has become a big problem in HCM
City and the HCM City
People’s Committee must take the highest responsibility for it.

To combat floods, we have to put an end to the leveling and
encroachment of canals. We also have to build more reservoirs. The most
important thing is hiring capable contractors to build dikes and sewage
systems.

The construction of reservoirs to control water was raised
seven years ago but until now it has not been implemented.

The capability of contractors is also a big problem. We
should not hire contractors who offer very low prices because we will have
unqualified contractors.

Deputy Huynh Cong
Hung: Combating flood in HCM
City is a great project
so we have to create a comprehensive survey to take right steps.

However, I think that the current flood situation is caused
by the violation of construction rules and investments in previously planned
anti-flood measures

Deputy Pham Minh Tri:
Flood-tides have increased so HCM
City’s anti-flood plans
have been outdated.

In recent meeting with constituents, they said the HCM City
People’s Committee should talk less and take more action. They don’t care about
the city’s GDP growth rate but only know that their money has devalued and
flooding and traffic congestion have become more serious.

PV