LookAtVietnam – Only about 70 per cent of repair work on protective dykes and other flood-control embankments around Ha Noi have been completed despite the approach of the rainy season.

Workers clear land for building Hong Ha Dyke in Ha Noi’s Dan Phuong District.

And administrative work from the integration of Ha Tay into Ha Noi has compounded the problem.

“Work to strengthen dykes must be preceded by an environmental-impact assessment, which normally takes two months,” Thinh said.

Work has also been slowed by illegal building activities along dykes. In the first three months of this year, 152 violations were recorded, including 27 considered serious. Most of the building was related to the upgrading of houses.

Thinh, however, gave an assurance that all key dyke and embankment sections prone to floods had been repaired and strengthened.

“Remaining works have to be carried out on sections along the Hong (Red) River and the centre of the Day River’s left bank. Signs also have to be erected,” he said.

The department urged dyke contractors to speed up progress and complete repairs by the end of this month.

The department’s main projects include dyke strengthening works costing VND26 billion (US$1.5 million), and a VND10 billion ($570,000) project on dyke repairs.

Seven out of 22 stages in a VND28 billion ($1.6 million) project to repair dyke damage caused by last November’s floods have been completed. The remaining stages are 70 to 75 per cent complete, but are expected to be completed this month.

These projects have been funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Meanwhile, Ha Noi City People’s Committee is spending another VND22 billion ($1.2 million) on dyke repairs. Ten stages have been completed and another nine largely finished.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News