Japan will support HCM City to enhance its management capacity of the sewerage system to provide better flood control in the future.
This is the objective of the second phase of a US$2.5million technical co-operation project signed on Tuesday in HCM City by Senior Representative of the Japan International Co-operation Agency in Viet Nam (JICA) Nagase Toshio and Director of the Urban Flood Control Programme's Steering Centre (SCFC) Nguyen Phuoc Thao.
"Flooding is causing serious consequences in the city so the project is expected to recommend feasible countermeasures to improve the situation," said Toshio.
Phase two of the project follows the 18-month phase one project which was completed in November 2010. Phase two aims to enhance SCFC's capacity to manage the sewerage system in the Tau Hu Ben Nghe – Kenh Doi – Kenh Te basin. It also aims to boost SCFCs ability to select and supervise contractors, and develop a road map for implementation of sewerage projects.
HCM City has become vulnerable to flooding, including river high tides, over the last 10 years. The project also tackles such issues as improving management of waste water quality, enhancement of public awareness, and a better reporting system for the operation and maintenance of waste water treatment plants between related stakeholders in the city's sewerage sector. The city has listed these issues as its biggest concerns.
The Project is scheduled to last for three years beginning in September. — VNS