Completed in 2020, Yen Nghia pumping station with a total investment of 7,466 billion VND is still operating at a standstill, although the West of Hanoi is flooded whenever it rains. The reason is that more than 2km of La Khe water channel has not been completed.
10 GENERATION UNITS NEVER RAN AT FULL CAPACITY
The project to improve the drainage system in the western area of Hanoi includes the Yen Nghia Pumping Station and La Khe canal. The project started construction at the end of 2015, with a total investment of VND 7,466 billion. After 5 years of construction, by January 2020, Yen Nghia Pumping Station was completed, with 10 units with a capacity of 120m3/s.
Nearly 4 years after the pumping station was completed, the 10 units with a capacity of 120m3/s have not operated at full capacity for a single day, even though the West of Hanoi has been severely flooded many times.
A representative of the Management and Maintenance Board of Agricultural and Rural Works (Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - the project investor) said that during the days when Hanoi was flooded due to Typhoon Yagi, Yen Nghia Pumping Station operated at a maximum of only 7/10 units. During heavy rains, even if the rivers and lakes were full of water, only 3-4 units would be needed to operate the channel leading to the pumping station to dry up.
The reason for the Yen Nghia Pumping Station being "thirsty" during the days of flooding in Hanoi is that the La Khe canal (which carries water from the Nhue River to the pumping station) is behind schedule and has encountered many difficulties in site clearance. Although it has been implemented for many years, it was not until mid-September that Ha Dong district resolutely cleared out households that had not yet handed over their land, affecting the progress of the La Khe canal.
According to Mr. Tran Manh Hung, Deputy Director of the Management and Maintenance Board of Agricultural and Rural Works (Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - the project investor), Yen Nghia Pumping Station plays a very important role in irrigation and drainage for the western area of Hanoi.
“Because the project has not been completed (La Khe water channel - PV), during storm Yagi, Yen Nghia pumping station could only operate 7/10 units. If the project is completed, it will contribute to flood prevention in the West of Hanoi,” said Mr. Hung.
Speaking to VietNamNet reporters, the leader of the Ha Dong District Project Management Board said that one of the reasons for the delay in site clearance is that the households have very complicated land use origins. Most of them are encroached land or land used by state agencies and enterprises but assigned without authority.
To speed up the land acquisition and clearance work for the project, Ha Dong district has directed relevant departments, units and wards to follow the correct procedures, carefully review land management records archived in different periods, collect documents provided by people whose land is recovered, organize conferences to collect opinions, verify and clarify related contents to serve as a basis for developing compensation, support and resettlement plans according to regulations.
MANY TIMES "BREAKED PROMISES", TRILLION-DOLLAR PUMPING STATION WASTED
The fact that the trillion-dong pumping station is "thirsty for water" while people in the West of Hanoi suffer from "ups and downs" every rainy season has repeatedly heated up the questioning and explanation sessions of the Hanoi People's Council. Specifically, at the questioning session of the Hanoi People's Council on July 5, 2023, delegate Trinh Xuan Quang (Thanh Xuan district) mentioned this project. Mr. Quang asked Ha Dong district to state the cause of the delay and the progress of the solution.
Responding to delegates at that time, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Dong District Can Thi Viet Ha said that the drainage improvement project for the western area of Hanoi had a total area requiring site clearance of 29.15 hectares. By July 2023, 28.45 hectares had been cleared, reaching 97.59%, and 26.32 hectares had been handed over to the investor for construction.
“Ha Dong District has identified this as a key project, so it is actively coordinating with relevant departments, branches and agencies to complete site clearance in 2023,” said Ms. Can Thi Viet Ha.
Chairing the question-and-answer session that day, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan assessed the project as "too slow". Therefore, he invited Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen to participate in answering more questions because it was related to site clearance work.
According to Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen, the city is aware of its responsibility and regularly focuses on directing the drastic removal of obstacles related to the land acquisition and clearance of La Khe canal.
“Up to now, the difficulties and obstacles of the project have been basically resolved. Ha Dong District and the Department of Construction are focusing on resolving resettlement issues,” said Mr. Quyen.
Regarding progress, Mr. Quyen said that after the site clearance is completed, the construction units and investors will continue to build the La Khe water channel. "The city has directed the units to build as soon as the land is available, and it is expected to ensure progress in 2023," Mr. Quyen said.
Delegates and the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council have pursued the issue to the end, and leaders from the City People's Committee and the District People's Committee have repeatedly committed to "ensuring the progress" of La Khe canal.
More than a year after the questioning session, the project to harden La Khe canal has yet to be completed. Many sections of the canal are left unfinished, with rocks and soil becoming "bottlenecks" that block the water flow.
Since September 2024, Ha Dong district has carried out 4 rounds of land acquisition to build the La Khe canal. However, by the end of October, nearly dozens of households had not yet received money and handed over land with an area of 0.5 hectares. Ha Dong district continues to set a goal of completing land acquisition in 2024 to soon complete the La Khe canal. Meanwhile, people in the West of the capital continue to hope that the 2025 rainy season will not have to suffer from flooding.
Hanoi people demolish houses, hand over land to build La Khe canal to supply water to Yen Nghia pumping station
Chairman of Hanoi People's Council: 'Yen Nghia Pumping Station Project is too slow'
Many streets in Hanoi were flooded after heavy rain this morning.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tram-bom-nghin-ty-hoat-dong-cam-chung-gan-4-nam-cho-kenh-dan-nuoc-2340660.html
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