The hustle and bustle of ship and boat traffic on the Te Canal, which is lined with dilapidated slums in District 7, HCM City. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - Concerted efforts areneeded to reduce pollution and improve the landscape near slums along canalsand rivers in HCM City, including investment from the private sector, speakerssaid at a recent workshop.
Speaking at a workshopon city slums, organised by the HCM City Architects Association on November 28,Dr. Le Huy Ba, said that nearly all canals and rivers in the city were nowheavily polluted.
Most canals and rivershave been encroached upon by residents living along the canals and rivers, withmore than 22 percent of the water surface used to build houses and otherconcrete works.
As of July 15, the cityhad discovered hundreds of cases in which residents had built illegal housingnear the sewer systems of canals and rivers, which led to serious floodingduring heavy rains.
Architect Le Minh Thanh ofthe HCM City Architects Association said that foul odours were another issue,especially at the Tau Hu – Ben Nghe canal in District 1 and ThamLương canal inDistrict 12.
Even the Nhieu Loc – ThiNghe canal, which was recently renovated at a cost of 350 million USD, emits abad odour, especially when the tide ebbs.
HCM City has 5,000km ofcanals and rivers that help drain water, thus curbing floods.
The city has been ableto dredge only 80km of canals and rivers during the past several decades, Ba said.
Thai Ngoc Hung, anarchitect, said all of the houses in slums along the canals and rivers hadcaused serious pollution and destroyed the urban landscape.
"The householdsneed to be relocated as soon as possible," he added.
However, architect NguyenTruong Luu, Chairman of the HCM City Architect Association, said the city wascontinuing to struggle to seek funds for projects to improve the areas nearcanals and rivers in the city.
In the past, capital forsuch projects came from Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans and thestate budget.
But now the city has tocall for investment from the private sector in and outside the country.
Also, speaking at theworkshop, architect Ngo Viet Nam Son said it was difficult to resettle theaffected residents due to a shortage of capital for relocation.
Son said the city mustcreate special incentives to attract more investment from the private sectorfor projects that would improve the environment and landscape near canals andrivers.
He also called forlong-term plans to reduce pollution and improve the landscape of canals,rivers, lakes and green zones in the city.
Dr Le Van Thuong, rectorof the HCM City University of Architecture, said the city’s most recentlandscape project near Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe canal had been ineffective andexpensive, and that more efficient alternatives were needed.
“The city needs toinvite investors to join the process of urban planning to suggest the bestsolutions,” Thuong said at the meeting.
Dr Nguyen Thiem said thecity should abolish Decision 150/2004/QĐ-UB that regulates space needed for theplanting of trees along canals or rivers. He said the space required would be awaste of the land fund.
The city should save theland for investors to operate cafes and restaurants along the rivers andcanals, which could help develop tourism activities, Thiem said.
City authorities havebeen struggling to seek funds for a project to relocate people living in 20,000houses in slums along canals and rivers by 2020.
The slums, mainlylocated in Districts 4, 7, 8 and Binh Thanh, have more than 100,000 peopleliving in unsafe and filthy conditions.
The houses, built withtemporary materials, are in serious disrepair and often lack toilets. Most oftheir residents lack steady jobs.
District 8 accounts fornearly 50 percent of the slums, with more than 1,000 houses lacking toilets andlocated in severely polluted areas, according to an official of the districtPeople’s Committee.
The city has developed amaster plan for District 8 that envisages building apartments with blocks of 20– 25 floors each for 20,000 people on 75 hectares along the Doi Canal.
Around half of the landwould be earmarked for green space and public and resettlement use.
Le Van Khoa, Deputy Chairmanof the city People’s Council, said slums had existed along canals for more thanhalf a century. The city plans to invite investors to build housing for therelocated slum residents, he said.
To make the planpossible, the city is considering options like using more Official Development Assistance(ODA), inviting foreign investors, and reviewing all public land available.
Tran Trong Tuan, Directorof the city’s Department of Construction, said his department would work withthe Department of Planning and Architecture, consultancy agencies from theprivate sector and architects to suggest the best solutions.
Tat Thanh Cang, Deputy Secretaryof HCM City’s Party Committee, praised the ideas and recommendations at theworkshop.
He said the city wouldtake into account all opinions and ideas about the best solutions to improvethe areas near the canals and rivers.-VNA
Speaking at a workshopon city slums, organised by the HCM City Architects Association on November 28,Dr. Le Huy Ba, said that nearly all canals and rivers in the city were nowheavily polluted.
Most canals and rivershave been encroached upon by residents living along the canals and rivers, withmore than 22 percent of the water surface used to build houses and otherconcrete works.
As of July 15, the cityhad discovered hundreds of cases in which residents had built illegal housingnear the sewer systems of canals and rivers, which led to serious floodingduring heavy rains.
Architect Le Minh Thanh ofthe HCM City Architects Association said that foul odours were another issue,especially at the Tau Hu – Ben Nghe canal in District 1 and ThamLương canal inDistrict 12.
Even the Nhieu Loc – ThiNghe canal, which was recently renovated at a cost of 350 million USD, emits abad odour, especially when the tide ebbs.
HCM City has 5,000km ofcanals and rivers that help drain water, thus curbing floods.
The city has been ableto dredge only 80km of canals and rivers during the past several decades, Ba said.
Thai Ngoc Hung, anarchitect, said all of the houses in slums along the canals and rivers hadcaused serious pollution and destroyed the urban landscape.
"The householdsneed to be relocated as soon as possible," he added.
However, architect NguyenTruong Luu, Chairman of the HCM City Architect Association, said the city wascontinuing to struggle to seek funds for projects to improve the areas nearcanals and rivers in the city.
In the past, capital forsuch projects came from Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans and thestate budget.
But now the city has tocall for investment from the private sector in and outside the country.
Also, speaking at theworkshop, architect Ngo Viet Nam Son said it was difficult to resettle theaffected residents due to a shortage of capital for relocation.
Son said the city mustcreate special incentives to attract more investment from the private sectorfor projects that would improve the environment and landscape near canals andrivers.
He also called forlong-term plans to reduce pollution and improve the landscape of canals,rivers, lakes and green zones in the city.
Dr Le Van Thuong, rectorof the HCM City University of Architecture, said the city’s most recentlandscape project near Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe canal had been ineffective andexpensive, and that more efficient alternatives were needed.
“The city needs toinvite investors to join the process of urban planning to suggest the bestsolutions,” Thuong said at the meeting.
Dr Nguyen Thiem said thecity should abolish Decision 150/2004/QĐ-UB that regulates space needed for theplanting of trees along canals or rivers. He said the space required would be awaste of the land fund.
The city should save theland for investors to operate cafes and restaurants along the rivers andcanals, which could help develop tourism activities, Thiem said.
City authorities havebeen struggling to seek funds for a project to relocate people living in 20,000houses in slums along canals and rivers by 2020.
The slums, mainlylocated in Districts 4, 7, 8 and Binh Thanh, have more than 100,000 peopleliving in unsafe and filthy conditions.
The houses, built withtemporary materials, are in serious disrepair and often lack toilets. Most oftheir residents lack steady jobs.
District 8 accounts fornearly 50 percent of the slums, with more than 1,000 houses lacking toilets andlocated in severely polluted areas, according to an official of the districtPeople’s Committee.
The city has developed amaster plan for District 8 that envisages building apartments with blocks of 20– 25 floors each for 20,000 people on 75 hectares along the Doi Canal.
Around half of the landwould be earmarked for green space and public and resettlement use.
Le Van Khoa, Deputy Chairmanof the city People’s Council, said slums had existed along canals for more thanhalf a century. The city plans to invite investors to build housing for therelocated slum residents, he said.
To make the planpossible, the city is considering options like using more Official Development Assistance(ODA), inviting foreign investors, and reviewing all public land available.
Tran Trong Tuan, Directorof the city’s Department of Construction, said his department would work withthe Department of Planning and Architecture, consultancy agencies from theprivate sector and architects to suggest the best solutions.
Tat Thanh Cang, Deputy Secretaryof HCM City’s Party Committee, praised the ideas and recommendations at theworkshop.
He said the city wouldtake into account all opinions and ideas about the best solutions to improvethe areas near the canals and rivers.-VNA
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