HCM City is at high risk of flooding during the rainy season this year, said Do Tan Long, an official of the city's Anti-Flood Programme Management Centre.
Heavy rain last week flooded 41 streets within five hours.
Long, who is head of the sewage system management division, said the flooding was mainly caused by ongoing construction projects.
For instance, the urban upgrading project clogged 21 sewages in District 6, Tan Phu and Tan Binh districts when the executing board pumped water and mud into the pipe system and failed to dredge the pipes after completing their work.
Similarly, construction of the environmental hygiene project in Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal blocked sewage in 13 places in District 1, District 3, Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan districts.
Anti-Flood Programme Management Centre Advisor Ho Long Phi said that projects' progress was behind schedule because city authorities did not have proper measures in place to see it through.
The centre has asked the municipal People's Committee to speed up the progress of the projects and repair any flood damage.
"The centre will also strengthen our check on the sewage system to repair in time, and upgrade the system," said Long.
The centre would complete the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal sewage projects, he said.
Meanwhile, Tran Van Tam, head of the Urban and Environment Division under the municipal People's Committee, said the committee would order the Department of Transport, the Department of Construction and districts' People's Committee to inspect and punish projects that damaged the sewage system.
The districts' People's Committees were responsible for ensuring local residents do not use the sewage system for their private purposes. Violators could be fined up to VND60 million (US$3,000), he said.
The Anti-Flood Programme Management Centre will be asked to dredge certain canals in the city, including Rach U Cay, Nhay, Ruot Ngua, Bau Trau, Tan Hoa-Lo Gom and Van Thanh, which are in District 6, District 11 and Tan Phu District. — VNS