On October 31, along the Tham Luong - Ben Cat canal through Go Vap district, the construction of the concrete embankment was basically completed.
However, both sides of the canal were surrounded by mud, many sections became muddy, making it difficult to move.
Some drainage sections are unfinished and not fully installed, causing mud to accumulate. The construction site is deserted with very little construction activity, creating a desolate landscape.
Mr. Mai Van Hieu, a local resident, said: “They dug up the soil along the canal bank, drove in concrete piles, and left a ditch between the road and the canal for months. The road surface is littered with rocks and soil, some areas have sunk and water has accumulated without warning signs. This is extremely dangerous, especially for children. When it is sunny, dust flies everywhere, and when it rains, the road becomes muddy and extremely difficult to travel.”
Tan Tao A Ward, Binh Tan District, is in the same situation. The road along the canal bank is being used as a place to store construction materials, and the excavated soil and rocks are piled up, causing muddy flooding, especially after heavy rains. This situation has lasted for many months, disrupting the lives of residents here.
Many businesses along the canal banks are also facing difficulties. Mr. Tran Tan Binh, a shop owner in Tan Tao A ward, shared: “We are very supportive of the project because it will help improve the living environment. However, the prolonged construction and muddy roads have greatly affected my business. I hope the project will be completed soon so that business can return to normal.”
According to the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project (investor), the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Rach Nuoc Len canal renovation project has only reached 37.9% of the progress after nearly two years of implementation.
The previous project identified locations such as Sub-area 3 in Binh Tri Dong B Ward (Binh Tan District), Go Vap Cultural Park (Go Vap District) and Solid Waste Treatment Complex in Da Phuoc Commune (Binh Chanh District) as dumping sites for generated soil and sludge.
However, due to the lack of consensus from local residents and management agencies, mud and soil must now be temporarily gathered at the construction site, causing problems with the construction site and hindering acceptance and disbursement.
The Project Management Board said that the mud generated from the construction is not hazardous waste and can be used for public projects in Ho Chi Minh City to avoid waste. If localities do not have a need to use it, the unit will propose to transfer it to other areas with needs, such as District 12, after completing the required procedures.
The project also encountered difficulties in the supply of materials such as sand and stone, along with input material prices increasing higher than the bid price. This caused financial difficulties for the contractor, affecting the construction progress.
Unstable weather, heavy rain combined with high tides also disrupted construction and slowed down project progress.
Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Rach Nuoc Len Canal is nearly 32 km long, Vietnamese sausagey through 7 districts of Ho Chi Minh City.
The renovation project worth VND8,200 billion, started in February 2023 and is expected to be completed on April 30, 2025.
The project includes concrete embankment, dredging, 7-12m canal roads, drainage system, lighting, trees, 19 culverts, 12 boat docks and 3 connecting bridges.
In 2024, the project was assigned 3,400 billion VND, but it is expected that only 1,028 billion VND (30.23%) will be disbursed.
