HÀ NỘI – The capital city’s administration has resumed the project to cut grass and trim plant  following a three-month cancellation over complaints of unnecessary expenditure.

Groups of workers were seen yesterday and the day before, using machines to cut down bunches of wild weeds growing along many major roads in Hà Nội, including Trần Duy Hưng Street and Thăng Long Boulevard.

A report from the city’s People Committee said from this month, the project will now focus on applying mechanical equipment in cutting grass and trimming plants as a way to reduce the expenditure.

The city will also continue to plant flowers interweaving with trees along the main streets.

Hà Nội’s administration has planned to spend some VNĐ178 billion ($8 million) on the project to trim grass and plant flowers this year, a cost reduced by VNĐ708 billion ($32 million) compared to previous VNĐ886 billion ($39 million) scheduled plan.

The cut-off expenditure was reached after the city held six meetings with related authorities, according to Hà Nội People’s Committee Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung.

Hà Nội administration, last July, decided to stop spending its budget on trimming grass and planting flowers across the city, excluding the flower gardens around Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

Expenses for cutting grass and planting flowers each year were high. For example, it cost up to VNĐ53 billion ($2.3 million) to cut grass and plant hibiscus flowers along the 24km of Thăng Long Boulevard each year.

The capital hopes to create visible changes in tree management in 12 inner districts, which includes a plan to plant 1 million trees by 2020. To reach the goal, the city has consulted scientists and relevant agencies about the types of trees that should be grown in the city, including those which were eye-catching. - VNS