The Ho Chi Minh City Transport Department and Center for Flood Control expect to reduce flood prone sites in the city by 30% by 2011.
Do Tan Long, head of the center’s Drainage System Management Division, said the unit would clean out the sewer system in the dry season. The department has suggested solutions to prevent contractors from causing congestion in the sewers. The city saw flooding at 96 sites last year, down by 23.8% against 2008. But flooding was a problem last year with unfinished sewer projects and high floodtide of 1.56 meters at Phu An Station in District 2 in November. Slow progress of canal upgrade projects was a challenge for anti-flood activities in the city in 2009, said Nguyen Thi Hien Luong, deputy director of the Transport Department. The problem is expected to become less severe this year as drainage projects are completed. The department urged contractors to finish sewer projects as scheduled to help complete the target.
