Hà Nội proposes to evacuate 2,200 households

HÀ NỘI –– Hà Nội authorities have proposed evacuating more than 2,200 households along the banks of the Red River in its adjusted plan on flood prevention to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The revised plan marks a serious reduction from the roughly 19,000 households set to be moved under the original plan.

Đỗ Đức Thịnh, head of the Hà Nội Authority of Dykes and Flood Prevention, told Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper the city was facing a shortage of residential areas and high population density. Therefore, it would be a huge challenge to relocate 19,000 households.

In the proposal to MARD last month, Hà Nội authorities planned to protect the other 16,800 households covered in the original plan by building a road on the riverbank that connects current embankments.

Hà Nội has also proposed solutions to improve flood discharge, including dredging 600 hectares of the river.

The plan is being completed and will be proposed to the Prime Minister and the city People’s Council by mid-2019. –– VNS