Authorities of Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi will spend VND373 billion ($18 million) to improve and expand clean water supply system in two outlying districts from now up to 2013, state media reported May 9. Of the sum, more than VND196 billion will come from the municipal budget and the rest from soft loans of Development Investment Fund and mobilizing capital from Ha Dong Water Supply Co., Ltd, the project’s investor. The project will use water sources from Da River to benefit local residents in Hoai Duc and Thanh Oai districts. Earlier late Jan, local authorities have also approved a VND156 billion project on building a tap water supply system in the outlying district of Gia Lam by 2012. Hanoi targets to cut the rate of clean water leakage to 27% by 2020, 22% by 2030 and 20% by 2050 under the capital city’s planning scheme of water supply and drainage by 2030, a local official said. As many as 76% of urban residents across Vietnam gain access to running water with a total daily capacity of 6.2 million cubic meters, experts said, adding that the country aims to help 90% of its population to enjoy tap water by 2020 and 100% by 2025. (Ha Noi Moi – New Hanoi May 9 p3)
