HCM CITY — The Ministry of Construction is seeking to develop dozens of flood-proof residential areas in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta, in addition to those already built over the past 15 years.

Nearly 200,000 families living in flood-prone areas were relocated to flood-proof areas in two phases in the last decade and a half.

But now the ministry is seeking the green light from the Government to build another 86 flood-proof areas and 44 embankments in severely eroded and flooded residential areas by the end of this decade.

This will benefit around 44,800 families.

The required funds will come from the central and local governments and loans from the Việt Nam Development Bank and the Việt Nam Bank for Social Policies.

The Government’s share is estimated to be VNĐ1.79 trillion (US$81 million).

The first phase in 2001-08 saw 804 flood-proof residential areas and embankments being built, benefiting 140,000 households.

In the 2008-15 second phase, 178 residential areas were developed.

However, after the second phase ended, many delta provinces reported severe erosion in many other areas, which threatened the safety of residents, and called for continuing with the programme, according to the ministry.  

Kha Văn Cụi, whose family was one of the first to move to a new flood-proof area in Hậu Giang Province’s Châu Thành A District, said his family has lived there for three years.

Earlier his family had lived along the Xà No Canal and was always worried about erosion, he said.

Trần Thị Tiếng of the same province, who also moved to a new residential area, said her family used to live in a thatched house in a field.

The house would be isolated and surrounded by water during the flood season, she said.

Now, since her family moved, it has enjoyed better living conditions and her children have friends to play with, she said.

Her husband is a worker while she makes embroidery products and cloth flowers to earn a living, she added. —VNS