The area allocated for a water project, which was slated for completion this year but still remains on paper.

Many people in Hanoi’s outskirts are still drawing water from old wells for daily use as a tap water project remains on paper several years after it was slated to begin implementation.

Thach Thi Hoa, deputy chairwoman of the town’s People’s Committee, said the company has not done anything with the project since.

Hoa said more than 13,500 residents of the town were looking forward to getting potable water on tap, but her office did not know how to explain the delay.

Resident Ngo Thi Hao said families concerned about hygiene were forced to buy mineral water bottles or spend millions of dongs on water filters.

Nguyen Huy Viet, chairman of Gia Lam District People’s Committee, said the clean water project started five years ago but it lacked detailed planning and funds to proceed. Viet blamed the delay on the investor, saying the district had already given the land and its contribution of the investment needed, but gave no figures.

“We’ve talked with the company recently and they said work on the project will start no sooner than the end of this year.”

Hanoi People’s Committee has asked the departments of Construction and Investment and Planning to deal with problems hindering the project.

The committee has required ground-clearance to be finished this year and construction started by next June so that the project can supply water in 2011.

Source: Tuoi Tre