Back Stories » Saigon » As Rainy Season Begins, Saigon Needs $90m for Flood Prevention

As Rainy Season Begins, Saigon Needs $90m for Flood Prevention

As the first signs of rainy season appear over Saigon, the city needs more than VND2 trillion (US$90.2 million) to carry out its various flood prevention efforts.

With 56 different projects in the works, the city's Steering Center of the Urban Flood Control Program (SCFC) has managed to earmark VND725.3 billion (US$32.6 million) for anti-flooding work, reports Tuoi Tre. Twenty-three of these projects are geared toward alleviating high water levels on six streets around the city, namely Do Xuan Hop, Kinh Duong Vuong, An Duong Vuong, National Road No. 13, Nguyen Xi and Ung Van Khiem.

In addition to these specific roads, SCFC also aims to install tidal gates on Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal in order to control water levels in Districts 1, 3 and 10 as well as Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan Districts.

However, the municipal government is still short VND1.3 trillion (US$58.3 million) of its VND2 trillion (US$90.2 million) goal.

Experts from SCFC are encouraging local authorities to review the city's outdated plans for flood prevention as well as its sewer system. Given Saigon's rapid population growth – before 1975, the city was home to 2 million people; today, its population is over 10 million strong – the government's old methods are no longer enough to handle the city's increased flooding.

Last year, as Saigon transformed into a swimming pool following heavy rains, local residents struggled to navigate waterlogged roads and lingering floodwaters filled residential homes in Binh Tan District and District 2's Thu Thiem.

Torrential downpours also threatened to shut down Tan Son Nhat International Airport, flooding the runways and putting the airport's electrical power source in jeopardy. The municipal government has since approved a VND950 billion (US$41.8 million) reservoir project which it claims will reduce flooding by up to 30%, and there are also plans to purchase US$62 million worth of mobile water pumps to assist in flood reduction.


Related Articles:

[Photos] Saigon Turns Into Swimming Pool After Torrential Downpour

Flooding Could Force Shutdown of Tan Son Nhat

Saigon Officials Hope to Spend $62m on Mobile Water Pumps


Related Articles

in Saigon

4 Saigon Districts to Experience Water Outage This Weekend

Residents of four Saigon districts will experience water outages or low water pressure this weekend.

in Saigon

5,800 Saigon Households to Relocate Ahead of Canal Maintenance

As city officials prepare for phase three of a Japanese-funded canal clean-up project, 5,800 families in Saigon will be forced to move house.

in Saigon

7,000 Sanitation Workers to Keep Saigon Streets Clean During Tet

Saigon will require as many as 7,000 sanitation workers to keep its streets and major markets clean during the upcoming Tet holiday.

in Saigon

Air Pollution in Saigon, Hanoi Reduces Noticeably During Social Distancing Period

In addition to allowing people to finish all of their puzzles and amass Animal Crossing playing time, Vietnam's social distancing campaign has led to air quality improvements in major cities.

in Saigon

Amid D1’s Sidewalk-Clearing Campaign, Uncertainty Over Bui Vien

In the midst of District 1 official Doan Ngoc Hai’s sidewalk-clearing campaign, speculation has arisen over the fate of downtown Saigon’s backpacker area.

in Saigon

As National Cases Surpass 100,000, Saigon Imposes Night Curfew, Restricts Movements

With daily new cases in the thousands, Saigon has imposed additional levels of movement restrictions on top of the most severe lockdown since the pandemic began.

Partner Content