Hanoi has requested a long-term plan for the restoration of the To Lich, Day and many other rivers (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Several rivers in the city, particularly the To Lich, Nhue and Day, need to be restored in the next fifteen years, according to the People's Committee of Hanoi.
According to Plan No 221/KH-UBND, these rivers have been seriously depleted and polluted over a prolonged period.
Vice Chairman of the People's Committee Vu Hong Khanh asked all grassroots level groups and relevant departments to propose projects to improve the quality of water and rehabilitation of those rivers.
The People's Committee of the city also asked district-level environment departments and people's committees to prepare plans to renovate and restore underground water reserves, research to build maps of underground water contamination, restricted areas, and ban the exploitation of underground water sources throughout the city.
To perform these tasks, the People's Committee has allowed renovation projects of lakes to be socialised, which means the private sector is welcome to research and invest if their projects are approved. The committee has encouraged the construction of retention basins - artificial lakes with vegetation around the perimeter to improve water quality in adjacent rivers and lakes – along with parks to reduce pollution in the Nhue and Day rivers.
In addition, the committee also requires all levels and departments to continue to increase co-operation with foreign partners in order to access new technologies which will help in preventing and controlling waste and pollution, preserving nature and adaptation to climate change, in addition to training of high quality human resources.
According to the national strategy of environmental protection in Hanoi until 2020 with vision 2030, the funding to carry out the tasks of environmental protection will be raised from the capital budget state, ODA, loans from credit institutions, and local individuals or foreigners.-VNA
