Proposing several flood control solutions for Vinh city.
(Baonghean) - Following the article "Decoding Flooding in Vinh City," which discussed the objective and subjective reasons why Vinh City has been submerged in water for three consecutive years after heavy rains, reporters from Baonghean Newspaper recorded opinions on solutions to combat flooding in the city.
Mr. Hoang Hong Khanh - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vinh Urban Infrastructure Management and Development Joint Stock Company:
A project to build an 80-meter-wide drainage ditch needs to be implemented.
Lenin Street, a major and important road in Vinh City, is frequently and severely flooded. Whenever it rains heavily, the road turns into a veritable river, overflowing with rainwater, forcing cars and motorbikes to exercise extreme caution. During the heavy rains on October 16th and 17th, many vehicles broke down and were unable to pass.
The road has become a major flood-prone area of the city, with flooding extending all the way to the Vinh Airport intersection. Meanwhile, the North Canal is not yet full of water. The reason for the limited rainwater flow into the North Canal is the lack of connection points (currently only 15 connection points/4km including both sides). When the North Canal is renovated, the connections will remain as they are. When heavy rains occur, the water collection points and ditches become overloaded, causing flooding.
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| Lenin Street was deeply flooded during the heavy rains on October 16th and 17th. (Archival photo) |
The city's master plan already includes an 80m wide canal running parallel to the 95m road from the Ke Gai River to Nghi Phu, Nghi Duc, and the Rao Dung River to divert and drain water from the northeastern part of the city, but it lacks investment capital. Therefore, to reduce flooding on Lenin Street and the entire northeastern area of the city, it is necessary to survey and open additional connection points to the North Canal and proceed with the construction of the aforementioned 80m planned canal.
Mr. Nguyen Van Ngoc - Chairman of the Ben Thuy Ward People's Committee:
Flood control is needed for the Ben Thuy area.
Blocks 13, 14, and 15 in Ben Thuy ward are also key flood-prone areas of the city. Residents in the area are currently concerned that the city needs to invest in and upgrade infrastructure and the drainage system as soon as possible. We are proposing that the city invest in and upgrade the Ben Thuy pumping station, upgrade the water outlets, and organize dredging and removal of weeds and garbage at drain number 3 and the regulating lake. Only then can we ensure long-term drainage for this area.
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| The Ben Thuy Pumping Station operator's office was flooded during the heavy rains on October 16, 2019. (Photo: VT) |
In addition, the Ben Thuy pumping station area needs to be connected to a separate power system so that the pumps can continue to operate during power outages. Regarding Ho Quy Ly road, Ben Thuy ward has already secured a project to upgrade and renovate this road, including the construction of standard drainage ditches to ensure timely water drainage, which is considered a crucial solution.
Mr. Bui Duc Loc - Former employee of Vinh Urban Infrastructure Management and Development Joint Stock Company:
A forced pumping station is needed on the Vinh River, along with a water storage lock.
Vinh Market is currently the most severely flooded area in Vinh City. This is due to the filling in of ponds and lakes that previously served as downstream drainage for the market to make way for urban roads. Reducing flooding at Vinh Market is a difficult problem. Raising the market's elevation is necessary, but if the underground drainage ditches remain lower than the Vinh River, the water flow will still be slow. Therefore, it is essential to plan for an additional forced pumping station for the Vinh Market area with a capacity of approximately 15,000-20,000 m³.3or more.
And for this pumping station to operate, it is necessary to have a water reservoir to hold water for the pumping station to function, similar to the reservoirs that previously existed to drain water from the Vinh River, which the Long Chau and Lung Lo urban areas have filled in.
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| The former sluice gate that once held water for the Vinh River has been filled in to make way for a road in the Long Chau urban area. Photo: Tran Chau |
Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu - Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh City:
More flood control projects are needed.
The drainage improvement projects for Vinh City, such as Thanh Lake, Bac Canal, and the regulating lake, have generally been completed and put into operation, creating a new look for Vinh City and contributing to its modern and attractive appearance. These projects have helped drain water from wards such as Cua Nam, Ha Huy Tap, Hung Phuc, Doi Cung, Quang Trung, and Dong Vinh... however, many other wards and communes have not yet been affected by the projects.
Currently, the city is seeking World Bank funding to reinforce the Vinh River embankment, construct connecting infrastructure to the Vinh River, and invest in several key road projects. In addition, it is actively exploring funding sources to invest in an 80-meter canal passing through Nghi Phu and Nghi Duc communes (Vinh City).
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| It is necessary to construct an 80-meter drainage canal for Lenin Street and the suburban communes. (Photo: Archival image) |
In the coming period, the city will develop a specialized drainage plan for Vinh City (incorporating climate change scenarios) as a basis for gradually investing in and upgrading the drainage system. When approving or agreeing on new urban area projects or projects involving land leveling that alter water flow, topography, and geomorphology, investors must be required to provide immediate drainage solutions for surrounding areas.
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| The trash screens are restricting the flow of water at the drainage points into the North Canal. Photo: Lam Tung |