Hanoi plans to provide safe water to 90% of its population in urban and rural areas by 2023 and 100% by 2025.

Overview of the discussion. Photo: The Hanoi Times

“The local authorities consider the target not only a priority for economic development but also to ensure social welfare,” Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Duong Duc Tuan set the target during a group discussion among the municipal People’s Council deputies on December 7.

With 149 Hanoi neighborhoods still without access to potable water, Tuan said the municipal People's Committee had authorized the Hanoi Clean Water Company No.2 to supply water to the northern and southern neighborhoods of the city, bordering Ha Nam Province to obtain water from Ha Nam.

On the wastewater treatment issue, Tuan said the city is pushing to complete the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant before 2025.

“The project, once completed, would enhance Hanoi’s wastewater treatment capability by 50% from the current 28%,” Tuan said.

At the discussion session, Deputy Tran Dung Hop from Thanh Tri District called for the city to offer incentive policies for investors in clean water provision, waste collection, and treatment, along with measures to address environmental pollution issues in rural areas.

“An immediate goal should be waste classification at source,” he added.

Echoing Hop’s view, Deputy Nguyen Van Thang from Chuong My District said the locality is struggling to improve the clean water coverage. “Specialized mechanism in capital and taxes is necessary for localities to attract investors in clean water projects,” Thang said.

He also highlighted the leadership of the local leaders in realizing socio-economic development targets for 2022. “With the local economy having fully recovered, this would lay the foundation for growth in 2023 and subsequent years,” he added.

In particular, Thang pointed out several major transport infrastructure projects being carried out, including radial road projects, the expansion of national road No.6, and the Ring road No.4 – Hanoi capital zone.

“These projects would help boost the development at Chuong My and other districts in the city’s southwest,” Thang noted.

Pushing for higher public investment

Deputy Dam Van Huan from Thanh Xuan District expressed concern at the city’s slow disbursement progress at 53% in the 11 months, below the national average.

Huan suggested the delay in disbursement was due to ineffective preparation and appraisal processes and the low quality of project consultants and construction plans.

Another issue mentioned by the deputy was the lack of cooperation between different agencies and difficulties in site clearance, especially in procedures related to land valuation and compensation packages for affected households.

"These problems have been known for years but have not been adequately addressed. The current solution should be to break major projects into subcomponents and implement them in phases," he said.

This year, the city strives to disburse 90% of the VND51.58 trillion ($2.07 billion) worth of public investment funds.

The city’s priority order for investment would be aligned with the vision for the development of the transport sector and socio-economic infrastructure, namely ring road No.2.5, ring road 3, ring road 3.5, ring road 4; major bridges crossing the river (Vinh Tuy bridge Phase 2, Thuong Cat bridge); inter-provincial roads (national road 6, upgrading national road 32, national road 1A, 21B); and urban railway projects.