Ho Chi Minh City will need more than VND2 trillion (US$90 million) for its flood prevention program this year, but has so far only been able to arrange a small part of the sum.

The total capital required for flood control efforts in the southern metropolis is as much as VND2,008.8 billion ($90.2 million), according to the city’s Steering Center of the Urban Flood Control Program (SCFC).

The program has so far been allocated VND725.3 billion ($32.6 million) and is falling short of the remaining VND1.3 trillion ($58.3 million).

The VND725.3 billion capital allocation has been earmarked to initiate 56 flood control projects, with most money going to 23 existing projects, SCFC said.

Once completed, these 23 projects will keep flooding in six streets, namely Do Xuan Hop, Kinh Duong Vuong, An Duong Vuong, National Road No. 13, Nguyen Xi, and Ung Van Khiem, at bay, according to the flood steering center.

The tidal gates on Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal will also be operated to control water levels in such districts as 1, 3, 10, Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan. 

The SCFC also suggested that municipal authorities review the city’s flood prevention plan, which was approved by the government late 2008, and the planning for the citywide sewer system, which was green-lighted in 2001, as they are outdated.

The flood prevention plan proved little effect in controlling flooding, while the drainage system zoning failed to meet local demand due to the rapid increase in city’s population to over 10 million people, from 2 million before 1975.

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