Hanoi will spend nearly VND1.5 trillion ($81.2 million) to clean its 45 lakes from now up to 2015, state media reported Jan. 21, citing Mayor of the city Nguyen The Thao. At a meeting with local firms yesterday, Thao called on them to get involved in the project. The city’s construction authorities said 65 among 111 lakes there have not cleaned yet. A recent survey by the Hanoi Water Drainage Company showed that the concentration of COD in the lakes is between 100mg/l and 150mg/l and the contents of N and P are 2-3 times higher the acceptable levels. Building waste and land caused by the rapid urbanization and poor awareness of local people narrowed lakes of Linh Quang, Re Quat, Tai Trau, Tu Lien and Dam Trau. Hanoi will celebrate 1000 Year Thang Long-Hanoi festival this year.
