In yet another attempt to alleviate Saigon’s flood problems, municipal authorities are expediting construction of a flood reservoir in Thu Duc District.
On Tuesday morning, local authorities in Thu Duc District commenced the flood regulation project on Vo Van Ngan Street in hopes that it will eliminate flooding hotspots in the neighborhood, reports Tuoi Tre.
Construction of the flood-control lake is being undertaken by the Japanese firm Sekisui Company and its Vietnamese partner, VMC Group. The project is expected to be completed in a week.
As per Sekisui’s requirements, the structure will use cross-wave modules that are made of polypropylene, a kind of plastic that is very durable and eco-friendly.
Tran Van Chin, chairman of the management board of VMC Group, told the newspaper that the underground lake will be able to store 108 cubic meters of water, 95% of which will be used to irrigate local trees and support firefighting efforts.
Should the reservoir prove effective in combating local flooding, similar structures will be built in other inundation hotspots in the city.
It seems Saigon officials are ramping up the city’s anti-flooding efforts lately. Apart from Thu Duc’s reservoir, municipal authorities are also building a “super pump” along Nguyen Huu Canh Street to allow quicker drainage from the city’s sewer system whenever it rains. The new device is supposed to be 30 times more powerful than the current pump.
Earlier in July, however, progress on one of Saigon’s most prominent canal improvement projects was hindered when its major sponsor, the World Bank, decided to halt a US$400 million official development assistance (ODA) package.
[Photo via Tuoi Tre]
