Social Affairs
Hanoi moves to restore river flows
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on April 18 inspected river systems in the south and west of Hanoi with a view to initiating measures that will restore water flows and reduce pollution.
The inspection's results will be used by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the municipal People's Committee to plan actions to ensure sufficient water supply for daily use and manufacturing activities while improving the local ecological environment.
The south and west of Hanoi have three river systems, Day, Tich and Nhue that typically provide water for irrigation and daily use for more than 4.3 million residents in 20 districts and towns.
The Deputy PM's inspection found that many parts of the rivers were nearly dry.
To deal with this situation, Hanoi authorities have proposed the setting up of a system to take water from the Tich River to the Day River.
The Government report cited experts as saying this measure would have the advantage of replenishing waters in both Tich and Day Rivers. Taking 20 cu.m per second of water from the the Tich River, which is already taking water from the Da River, will not affect the former's flow, the report said.
It also cited the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as saying that in the 2015-2020 period, experts would define project areas, the Day River would be dredged and dike systems on both Day and Tich rivers would be upgraded.
It said experts are also looking for measures to shore up declining water levels in lowland areas of the Hong (Red) River.
Hanoi authorities have also proposed other projects costing thousands of billions of dong to upgrade irrigation systems and pumping stations, the report said.
No river or lake in Hanoi can meet the standards set to be classified as a 1st-class body of water (unpolluted or slightly polluted), according to the Institute for Environmental Science and Development (VESDEC).
The rivers and lakes in Hanoi everyday receive millions of cubic meters of industrial, domestic wastewater along with wastewater from rice fields and aquaculture. Of this, the domestic wastewater in the city is expected to reach 440,000 cubic meters per day by 2020.
Deputy PM Hai said the Government would soon come up with detailed measures to ensure adequate water in all systems.
The south and west of Hanoi have three river systems, Day, Tich and Nhue that typically provide water for irrigation and daily use for more than 4.3 million residents in 20 districts and towns.
The Deputy PM's inspection found that many parts of the rivers were nearly dry.
To deal with this situation, Hanoi authorities have proposed the setting up of a system to take water from the Tich River to the Day River.
The Government report cited experts as saying this measure would have the advantage of replenishing waters in both Tich and Day Rivers. Taking 20 cu.m per second of water from the the Tich River, which is already taking water from the Da River, will not affect the former's flow, the report said.
It also cited the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as saying that in the 2015-2020 period, experts would define project areas, the Day River would be dredged and dike systems on both Day and Tich rivers would be upgraded.
It said experts are also looking for measures to shore up declining water levels in lowland areas of the Hong (Red) River.
The Nhue River
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No river or lake in Hanoi can meet the standards set to be classified as a 1st-class body of water (unpolluted or slightly polluted), according to the Institute for Environmental Science and Development (VESDEC).
The rivers and lakes in Hanoi everyday receive millions of cubic meters of industrial, domestic wastewater along with wastewater from rice fields and aquaculture. Of this, the domestic wastewater in the city is expected to reach 440,000 cubic meters per day by 2020.
Deputy PM Hai said the Government would soon come up with detailed measures to ensure adequate water in all systems.
