Hanoi has urged relevant agencies to design plans on storm and floodcontrol, mitigating the impacts of climate change, said an official.

Nguyen Vinh Lien, Head of the municipal Departmentof Irrigation, has called on units to speed up upgrades to embankments,irrigation systems and flood-proof initiatives to ensure maintainedagricultural production during this year’s flooding season which startsfrom July to September.

Contractors have been urged to ensure safety for people and equipment, especially at tall building and embankment sites.

The city requested localities conduct publicity campaigns to enhancecommunity awareness of protecting irrigation systems and preventingregulation violations when working on a river.

The Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development has been asked tospeed up the Dong Mo reservoir project, dredge the Day River and upgradethe Nhue River.

The city aims to devisecomprehensive and drastic drainage measures in case of heavy rain toreduce inundation downtown and in suburban areas.

It has invested in a number of pumping stations and drainage projects to respond to the stormy season this year.

Currently, Hanoi has 2,033 pumping stations, including 122 fieldones. They have been continuously upgraded to ensure safety duringoperation.

Weather is likely to develop rapidlyand unpredictably with the possibility of El Nino weather patternimpacts in the stormy season this year.

As manyas 10 storms and tropical low pressure are expected to hit the country,one or two of which could impact the northern delta, including Hanoi.-VNA