VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City has found a solution to control the inundation of streets in the city during rainstorms: A system of water inlet sluices will be built from now to 2012, estimated to cost VND11,500bil.

The ministry has gathered leading drainage experts in the country to discuss a solution for the inundation of the sewer system. The ministry has organised a lot of workshops during which it consulted with many scientists, who agreed to submit a project to the government for approval.

I have heard that when the project on preventing the inundation of the sewer system was presented before scientists and HCM City leaders, some of them said that the project proves to be costly and unfeasible. What would you say about that?

I think that criticism is unavoidable and I understand the worries of scientists. However, I believe that we do not have a better solution for the problem.

Do you think that the sewer system project will affect the appearance and urban planning of the city?

Dao Xuan Hoc, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy Head of the National Committee on Flood and Storm Control, Head of the Water Drainage Institute

How will the plan be implemented? When will the inundation in the city end?

The project management board will seek capital sources right after the Prime Minister approves the plan to ensure that the plan will be implemented one year later. The Dutch government will support the plan with a technical project under which Dutch engineers will help Vietnam design and install the sluices using new technologies.

The project will be carried out in two phases. If we can arrange enough capital, we can undertake works in both zones at the same time. Zone 1 includes the right bank of the Saigon River and Nha Be district. Zone 2 includes the turning point of the Dong Nai River and Saigon River. The project is scheduled to be implemented until 2012. However, the project’s implementation still depends on the capital arrangement and cooperation between HCM City and Long An provincial authorities.

How about the total expenses of the project?

It is estimated to cost VND11,531bil, of which the first phase will cost VND10,080bil, and the second VND1,451bil. The capital will come from the state budget, both the central budget and HCM City budget, and from official development assistance ODA.

Minh Nguyet