Hanoi
Improving the water environment in Hoan Kiem Lake: Protect the ecosystem
On July 7, the Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Ltd collaborated with the People’s Committee of Hoan Kiem District to organize a public consultation on the content of the environmental impact assessment report for the Hoan Kiem Lake Environment Improvement project, focusing on mud dredging.
Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huong, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Hanoi University of Technology (consulting unit for environmental impact assessment) said that Hoan Kiem Lake, 12 hectares wide, is severely contaminated. In particular, the mud layer on the bottom of the lake is thick and there are many heavy metals and toxic gases inside the lake body, affecting the living environment of the lake organism. In addition, the phytoplankton densities tend to increase, with dissolved oxygen levels dropping dramatically at different times, affecting the survival of many plants and animals living in the lake for many years. Therefore, dredging is necessary to protect the ecosystem at Hoan Kiem Lake.
At the consultation, scientists and residents living in the areas around Hoan Kiem Lake all agree to improve the water quality of Hoan Kiem Lake. However, scientists have suggested that there should be a comprehensive plan for pre-, and post-rehabilitation as well, biodiversity conservation in particular to maintain the quality of the lake water after dredging. Professor Duong Duc Tien, the Chairman of the Hanoi Department of Biological Sciences, said that the process of rehabilitation and dredging of the lake must be extremely careful to ensure the state of biodiversity. Currently, there are only two lakes of great biological values, the West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake. The biodiversity of Hoan Kiem Lake is very different from that of other lakes in the whole country. Therefore, in the process of dredging, it is necessary to announce in detail the types of fish and algae living inside the lake. It is also recommended to prepare two methods of mechanical dredging and manual dredging for each lakeside area, south and north of the lake to ensure the retention of biodiversity. During the dredging process, the mud layer should be maintained since it is the habitat for many kinds of organisms. The mud layer should not be completely removed as of the case for Thien Quang Lake.
On behalf of the local community, Mr. Trinh Dang Khoa (Dinh Tien Hoang Street) stresses that despite many efforts in water quality improvement in Hoan Kiem Lake, the citizen’s expectations in this issue are not met. The Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Ly Thai To Ward – Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Ha says the priority is to conduct dredging to improve the water quality. However, during the process, it is vital to ensure environmental protection and set up contingency measures in case any incident occurs. More importantly, the Hoan Kiem People’s Committee needs to put up efforts in raising people’s awareness in environmental safeguard of Hoan Kiem Lake, a place with not only spiritual and historical value but also scientific value in conserving diversified aquatic system with 33 unique kinds of algae.
After hearing the public opinions, Vice General Director of Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Ltd – Mr. Phan Hoai Minh as the project owner affirms that the company will instruct the consultant to review all responses, especially on the issue of aquatic ecosystem conservation in the Environmental Impact Assessment report. Once completed, the report will be appraised by Hanoi’s competent agencies and a ministry-level scientific panel before being implemented.
Hoan Kiem Lake
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On behalf of the local community, Mr. Trinh Dang Khoa (Dinh Tien Hoang Street) stresses that despite many efforts in water quality improvement in Hoan Kiem Lake, the citizen’s expectations in this issue are not met. The Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Ly Thai To Ward – Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Ha says the priority is to conduct dredging to improve the water quality. However, during the process, it is vital to ensure environmental protection and set up contingency measures in case any incident occurs. More importantly, the Hoan Kiem People’s Committee needs to put up efforts in raising people’s awareness in environmental safeguard of Hoan Kiem Lake, a place with not only spiritual and historical value but also scientific value in conserving diversified aquatic system with 33 unique kinds of algae.
After hearing the public opinions, Vice General Director of Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Ltd – Mr. Phan Hoai Minh as the project owner affirms that the company will instruct the consultant to review all responses, especially on the issue of aquatic ecosystem conservation in the Environmental Impact Assessment report. Once completed, the report will be appraised by Hanoi’s competent agencies and a ministry-level scientific panel before being implemented.
