CẦN THƠ — The Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ plans to build its first green infrastructure project in the form of a car park, Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday.

The information was revealed during a meeting held by the city’s People’s Committee.

Accordingly, the project will cover an area of 0.5ha along the Rạch Ngỗng River and Thới Nhựt 2 resettlement area in An Khánh Ward, Ninh Kiều District. It aims to develop green infrastructure to serve local communities through an ecological framework for social, economic and environmental health.

Trịnh Anh Tuấn, of Cần Thơ University’s Research Institute of Climate Change and a member of the project development team, said upon its completion, the project would help improve the surrounding environment and living conditions. 

“The river banks will be designed to maintain natural conditions and create an ecological landscape,” Tuấn said.

He added that facilities to reduce flooding will be included along with those to improve the quality of life for residents.

Vice chairman of the People’s Committee, Đào Anh Dũng, said residents had been living in the resettlement area for many years, but so far have not had space to park.

If successful, the project would solve not only the parking demand but also mitigate flooding and environmental issues, which are challenging developing cities like Cần Thơ.

Dũng has asked the university’s Institute of Environmental Sciences and relevant units to put the final touches to the project before implementation.

According to experts, green infrastructure is a network of ‘green’ elements conserved, enhanced, or set up to address the negative effects of urbanisation based on a ‘building with nature’ approach, which means ensuring harmony between socio-economic development and the conservation and strengthening of natural values.

Green infrastructure is said to bring many health and wellbeing benefits, along with environmental benefits.

In Việt Nam, green infrastructure will help solve several urbanisation issues, improve air quality, reduce noise, create new biodiversity and boost economic growth.

It also helps raise land values, attract investment, and promote tourism and trade. — VNS