Võ Văn Ngân's drainage system has been upgraded to prepare for the upcoming rainy season. Photo: tuoitre.vn

HCM CITY  HCM City has finished many flood-control projects to fight flooding in the coming rainy season.

After the city suffered months of heat waves, some heavy rains hit the densely-populated southern metropolis. However, heavy rain also caused flooding on many roads in the city.

According to the city's Department of Construction, the city has had 18 flooded roads (13 roads flooded due to rain and five roads flooded due to high tide).

The specific list of 13 main roads flooded by rain includes Phan Anh, Lê Đức Thọ, Quang Trung, Nguyễn Văn Khối (Cây Trâm), Hồ Học Lãm, National Highway No.1, Đặng Thị Rành, Dương Văn Cam, Kha Vạn Cân, Bạch Đằng, Thảo Điền, Quốc Hương and Nguyễn Văn Hưởng.

Meanwhile, the list of flooded roads due to high tide includes Huỳnh Tấn Phát, Trần Xuân Soạn, Lê Văn Lương, Đào Sư Tích and Highway 50.

In fact, many places not on this list were flooded. On the afternoon of May 8, after only about 15 minutes of rain, some areas in Thủ Đức City were flooded, including Lê Văn Việt, Tô Ngọc Vân and Võ Văn Ngân streets, and Hà Nội Highway.

Mai Hữu Quyết, vice chairman of Thủ Đức City People's Committee, commented that Võ Văn Ngân street is a heavily flooded area of Thủ Đức City in recent years.

In the near future, Thủ Đức City will have many renovation projects to solve the overall problem of flooding in the locality.

Besides Võ Văn Ngân Street, the city will strive to start and complete seven projects to upgrade anti-flood embankments, 36 drainage projects, and expand 60 alleys.

Heavy flooding on Võ Văn Ngân street after heavy rain on May 15. Photo: laodong.vn

City puts plans into action 

To prepare for the rainy season, the city’s Department of Construction said it has planned to put into operation a series of flood-control projects.

The department plans to operate 380 tidal check valves, and five mobile pumping stations with a capacity from 1,000 cubic metres (cu.m) of water per hour to 2,000cu.m of water per hour.

Along with 380 tidal check valves and five mobile pumping stations, ten other pumping stations and large tide control gates in Bình Triệu, Bình Lợi, Lăng Canal, Nhảy - Ruột Ngựa Canal, Nhiêu Lộc - Thị Nghè, Bà Tiếng Canal, Phú Lâm, Thanh Đa, Mễ Cốc 1 and Mễ Cốc 2 will be operated synchronously to mitigate flooding from high tide.

In addition, the department and relevant units have implemented projects to build and renovate drainage systems to solve flooding on 18 main roads such as Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Tân Quý, Ba Vân, Trương Công Định, Bàu Cát, Lê Đức Thọ, Quang Trung, Nguyễn Văn Khối, Đặng Thị Rành and Bạch Đằng streets in Bình Thạnh District; Thảo Điền, Quốc Hương, Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, Dương Văn Cam and Kha Vạn Cân streets and the National Highway 1A section in Thủ Đức City; and Phan Anh and Hồ Học Lãm streets in districts 6, 8 and Bình Tân.

Lý Thanh Long, chief of staff of the city Department of Construction, said that the city is preparing to do three projects to prevent flooding and improve drainage pipes in Gò Vấp District.

These projects include improving the drainage system of Nguyễn Van Khối - Lê Văn Thọ Street, Quang Trung Street (from Phạm Văn Chiêu to Chợ Cầu bridge) and Lê Đức Thọ Street (from Phạm Văn Chiêu to Cụt bridge).

In addition, the department has directed the city Technical Infrastructure Management Centre to repair degraded sewers, and dredge sewer beds and canals, Long said.

The city is also preparing to invest in four projects including the Hy Vọng Canal renovation project, the Văn Thánh Canal dredging and improvement project, and Bà Lớn Canal drainage project.

The project to dredge, build infrastructure, and improve the environment on the bank of Đôi Canal in District 8 is expected to start and be completed in the period 2026-2030. — VNS