ĐỒNG NAI – Authorities in Biên Hoà, the capital of Đồng Nai Province, must ensure canals and streams are dredged by next month to prevent flooding, the province Party Secretary has said.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of more than 300 households seriously affected by rain-triggered flooding last week, Nguyễn Phú Cường said authorities should work with relevant agencies and companies to stop the flooding of roads.

They should immediately take action against construction works that have illegally encroached on canals and drainage systems, he said.

The city has 28 flooding-prone spots where traffic jams routinely affect the lives of people living there during the rainy season, according to the city People’s Committee.

Lê Văn Mừng, a resident of Hoá An Ward, told the meeting that more than 100 families live in his neighbourhood, which has been severely flooded in recent years whenever it rained.

“If it rains heavily at night, we have to stay up through the night to move furniture.”

There is also the grave risk of electrocution and falling into manholes, he said. 

Authorities in Biên Hoà, the capital of Đồng Nai Province, must ensure canals and streams are dredged by next month to prevent flooding, the province Party Secretary has said.

He urged local authorities to immediately take flood-prevention measures to mitigate the misery caused by flooding.

Many residents in Long Bình Tân Ward said after the surface of the National Highway No 51 was raised, many rivers and streams along it were narrowed by soil and rocks, causing flooding.  

Vũ Đức Hạnh of Trảng Dài Ward’s Residential Area No 1 said his house is a half metre higher than the street, yet is completely flooded when it rains.      

“Flooding causes damage to our things and seriously affects our lives,” he lamented.

The area is flooded because the stream which helps drain water is blocked by rubbish and silt, he said.

Nguyễn Văn Toàn of Trảng Dài Ward said blockage of the sewage system by litter is also a cause for flooding.

Cường said authorities should urge the public not to litter and fine those caught littering.

The city should regularly hold the “Green, Clean and Beautiful Saturdays Movement” to collect rubbish and dredge sewers to reduce flooding during the rainy season, he said.

The province would give priority to flood-prevention projects in Biên Hoà, he promised.

Rapid urbanisation and a shortage of funds to improve water drainage systems are the major reasons for flooding in Biên Hoà.

Erosion

The erosion of a 100-metre stretch along the Đồng Nai River from Rạch Đông Bridge to the old boat station in Tân An Commune, Vĩnh Cửu District, on Monday damaged many houses.

Lê Văn Hoàng, chairman of the Tân An Commune People’s Committee, said 18 houses, the Hamlet 1 Culture House and Bà Temple have developed cracks and could collapse at any moment.

Illegal sand mining is the major reason for the erosion, Mai Văn Trên, deputy head of the district People’s Committee Office, said.

Besides, heavy rains in recent days have softened the soil and caused it to tip into the river, he said.

Local authorities have helped affected households move their things and people to safer areas. — VNS