On February 4, the Government Office announced that it had just issued Official Dispatch No. 741/VPCP-NN on the investment policy for the construction of an emergency project to supplement water from the Red River to the To Lich River.
In the dispatch, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha commented as follows:
It is urgent to treat the source of pollution and revive rivers, especially the To Lich River, to restore the environment, landscape, culture, and protect people's health in accordance with the direction of General Secretary To Lam in Notice No. 111-TB/VPTW dated December 3, 2024 of the Central Party Office.
In the immediate future, the Hanoi People's Committee needs to immediately implement the project to replenish water in the To Lich River, especially when 100% of wastewater along the river is collected at the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant and the water after collection and treatment is not returned to the To Lich River.
The transfer of water from the Red River to the To Lich River needs to be carried out simultaneously with the review of related planning, synchronous implementation of solutions to collect all wastewater along the rivers, control rainwater, urban embellishment, improve the landscape on both sides of the river, and promote economic, cultural and environmental efficiency.
The Hanoi People's Committee has full authority to decide and implement urgent public investment projects under its management. The Hanoi People's Committee decides and implements projects in the spirit of "local decision, local action, local responsibility".
In case of applying the procedures for implementing urgent public investment projects, the Hanoi People's Committee directs the Departments and branches to complete the economic and technical plan to ensure economic efficiency and sustainability of the project, and to avoid loss or waste of public assets and the state budget.
Regarding solutions and technology, the Deputy Prime Minister noted the need to study the plan to settle and filter the Red River water to reduce the amount of sediment and effectively use the water source after it has been treated, including the plan to supply water back to the To Lich River instead of transferring it to the Red River.
Research and assess impacts, and find solutions to ensure the safety of technical infrastructure works in water intake areas and along the route where the works pass.
The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Construction, and Natural Resources and Environment, according to their assigned state management functions, to proactively coordinate, guide, and support the Hanoi People's Committee to promptly complete procedures related to dikes, construction, water resources, environment, etc. to implement the project to ensure goals and progress, in accordance with legal regulations.
Regarding the plan to add water from the Red River to the To Lich River, Hanoi City previously agreed on a plan to build a water pipeline from the culvert through the dike to Vo Chi Cong Street, bringing water to the head of the To Lich River at the culvert through Hoang Quoc Viet Street.
Hanoi will build a pumping station with a capacity of 3-5m3/s at the Red River bank (Phu Thuong ward, Tay Ho district) including a pumping station, suction tank, transformer station, and operation management house. Water from the pumping station will be piped along the internal road in the river bank area, through the Red River dike (under Nhat Tan bridge, An Duong Vuong street).
