HCMC – The HCMC Department of Construction has sought VND19.28 trillion for 25 projects to remove 6,500 makeshift houses along canals in the city.
The department has sent the municipal Department of Planning and Investment a list of the 25 projects, whose capital should be sourced from the mid-term public investment plan in the 2021-2025 period, Lao Dong newspaper reported.
According to the HCMC Department of Construction, among the 25 projects, there are three projects to improve the wastewater drainage in association with removing makeshift houses along canals to revitalize the urban landscape.
Specifically, a project to improve the environment and develop the infrastructure around the Xuyen Tam Canal in Go Vap and Binh Thanh districts requires an estimated investment of VND9.35 trillion, including VND4.86 trillion for site clearance and compensation. In this project, nearly 2,200 houses will be removed.
A project to rehabilitate the Hy Vong Canal to reduce flooding in the Tan Son Nhat International Airport area needs an investment of VND1.98 trillion, with nearly VND1.6 trillion being used for site clearance, while 190 houses will be relocated.
In addition, in a project to dredge and upgrade the Van Thanh Canal in Binh Thanh District, which requires an estimated investment of VND1.2 trillion, 834 houses will be relocated.
The city has also approved the use of the public investment in eight projects, including those to expand Ton That Thuyet Street and a park on the bank of the Kenh Te Canal in District 4 (the third phase); the Khanh Hoi Lake park in District 4 (the fourth phase); the Hang Bang Canal in District 6 (the third phase); and the site clearance for projects to upgrade the Cau Son Canal in Binh Thanh District, the Nhat Ban and A41 canals in Tan Binh District.
The site clearance for six other projects have been approved, including those to prevent landslides in the Thanh Da Peninsula in Binh Thanh; drain wastewater and reduce the pollution on the Tham Luong-Ben Cat-Nuoc Len Canal (second phase) in districts 12 and Go Vap; and build the Vam Thuat sluicegate in District 12.
Moreover, the procedures for eight projects are being completed to seek the public investment, including those to build the wastewater drainage system in the Bao Ngan Canal in Phu Nhuan and 3 districts and Bau Tran Canal in districts 6 and Tan Phu, and improve the Hang Bang in District 5 (second phase).
The city set a target to relocate 20,000 households along canals in the 2015-2020 period. However, as of 2020, the city had relocated nearly 3,000 houses only, or 12.4%.
