On the morning of December 2, Hanoi Party Secretary Bui Thi Minh Hoai and Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Tran Sy Thanh inspected the progress of the Yen Xa wastewater treatment system project and implemented measures to clean up the To Lich River.

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Hanoi Party Secretary Bui Thi Minh Hoai inspected and listened to a report on the construction progress of the Yen Xa wastewater treatment system. Photo: Viet Thanh

Reporting to the city leaders, Mr. Hoang Trong Tung - Director of the Hanoi City Department of Technical Infrastructure and Agricultural Construction Investment Project Management Board said that up to now, Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant with a capacity of 270,000m3/day and night has been completed and is in the process of trial operation.

Regarding the construction package of the sewer system for To Lich River and the main sewer, the completed volume to date has reached about 98% of the contract. Of which, 100% of the entire pipeline has been completed and wastewater has been brought to the factory since May 29, 2024. Currently, the construction unit is returning the site of the package.

Regarding the construction package of the sewer system surrounding the Lu River, Hanoi is completing the dossier to ask for opinions from relevant units to approve the policy of adjusting the capital source from ODA to the city budget. The construction package of the sewer system for a part of the Ha Dong area has completed about 22% of the work volume.

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Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee requested to soon replenish water to clean To Lich River. Photo: Viet Thanh

During the inspection, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh paid special attention to the issue of ensuring the flow to "revive" the To Lich River, when wastewater has been collected through pipes to Yen Xa Factory for treatment.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Hoang Trong Tung - Director of the Project Management Board proposed that the City People's Committee study the plan to add water from the Red River to West Lake. Then, water from West Lake will be added to the To Lich River through a separate pipeline. "With this plan, in about 6 months, there will be water from the Red River to clean the To Lich River," said Mr. Tung.

At the meeting, the Management Board of Investment Project for Construction of Technical Infrastructure and Agriculture, along with the factory leaders and the Hanoi Department of Construction discussed the project's sludge treatment and water supply from West Lake to To Lich River.

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Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant will start trial operation from December 1, 2024. Photo: Quang Phong

The Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee said that the construction of the Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant and the To Lich river underground sewer system is behind schedule, but the units have made efforts to complete it. Mr. Tran Sy Thanh hopes that the bidding package for the Lu river sewer system and the construction of a sewer system for part of the Ha Dong area will ensure progress as committed.

Regarding the work of adding water from West Lake to To Lich River, Mr. Tran Sy Thanh said that the city leaders have decided to urgently implement the project; assigned the Department of Construction to preside with departments, branches, project management boards and localities to speed up the project's progress.

Mr. Tran Sy Thanh gave a deadline of 3 months to complete procedures and 6 months to construct the water supply system from the Red River to West Lake to create flow for the To Lich River.

"In any circumstances and conditions, the project must be completed by September 2, 2025," the Chairman of the City People's Committee emphasized, noting that during the implementation process, special attention must be paid to the plan to protect the ecological environment and ecosystem of West Lake, and to replenish the lake's water to the To Lich River.

Previously, on November 27, at a working session with the Hanoi Party Committee Standing Committee, General Secretary To Lam spent a lot of time talking about two very important issues: environmental pollution and traffic congestion. The immediate task is to deal with water pollution, especially the To Lich River.

At the meeting, Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh said that the city has resolutely directed the issue of wastewater pollution treatment. Up to now, the city has had 6 centralized wastewater treatment plants/stations according to the capital's drainage planning invested in, built and put into operation, mainly concentrated in the central urban area south of the Red River - To Lich River basin and part of Ta Nhue basin with a total treatment capacity of 314,300 m3/day and night.

Along with putting into trial operation the Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant, Hanoi is directing, completing and approving the Project "Restoring environmental quality and developing the system of 4 inner-city rivers: To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, Set".

On the basis of thoroughly collecting wastewater discharged into To Lich River, operating well the Yen Xa wastewater treatment system, investing in renovating and upgrading the landscape along both river banks, it is expected that by 2025, the environment and landscape of To Lich River will change positively, effectively serving the people of the Capital.