On January 6, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issued a document reporting to the Prime Minister on the implementation of the Xuyen Tam canal project, which has problems arising in criteria of a national important project.
The project of dredging, improving the environment, and constructing infrastructure of Xuyen Tam canal (from Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal to Vam Thuat river) through Binh Thanh district and Go Vap district was approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council in October 2023.
The total investment capital of the project at that time was more than 9,664 billion VND, of which the cost of compensation, support and resettlement was nearly 6,400 billion VND. The project needed to recover more than 158,849 m² of land, affecting 1,880 cases.
By September 2024, the project's investment policy was adjusted by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, increasing the total capital to more than VND 17,200 billion (an increase of more than VND 7,500 billion).
Of which, the increase is mainly for site clearance, increasing by VND 7,641 billion (from nearly VND 6,400 billion to more than VND 14,000 billion). The total area of recovered land increased to 197,349 m², affecting 2,215 cases.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the application of new policies and legal regulations such as the 2024 Land Law and the 2023 Housing Law... has led to increased costs for compensation, site clearance, support and resettlement.
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has proposed that the Prime Minister consider and direct the reporting to the National Assembly on the project implementation status due to the emergence of criteria belonging to important national projects according to regulations.
Currently, both Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts have issued decisions approving compensation, support and resettlement plans to implement the Xuyen Tam canal renovation project.
In Go Vap district, the project reclaimed land from 138 cases, including 137 households and Van Lang University. Of these, 40 households were completely cleared, and 98 households were partially cleared.
In Binh Thanh District, there were 2,077 cases of land reclamation, including 1,230 households and 23 organizations that were completely cleared. The remaining 824 cases were partially cleared.
The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board (project investor) has transferred more than VND11,939 billion to the two districts to pay for compensation, support and resettlement.
According to the plan, the XL-03 package (section from Luong Ngoc Quyen Street to Vam Thuat River) through Go Vap district will start construction in March 2025.
Package XL-01 (section from Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal to Bui Dinh Tuy bridge) and package XL-02 (section from Bui Dinh Tuy bridge to Luong Ngoc Quyen street), including branches of Binh Loi, Binh Trieu and Cau Son canals through Binh Thanh district, will start construction before April 30, 2025.
Xuyen Tam Canal is nearly 9 km long, flowing through Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts, and is considered the most polluted canal in Ho Chi Minh City. The main canal is 6.7 km long from Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal to Vam Thuat river and three branches are more than 2.2 km long (Son bridge branch, Binh Trieu, Binh Loi).
The Xuyen Tam canal renovation project includes dredging the canal bed to a depth of 3.5 m and widening the canal bed from 20-30 m. A wastewater and rainwater collection system will be built synchronously, helping to improve environmental quality and prevent pollution.
On both sides of the canal, a 6 meter wide road will be built, with two lanes on each side, along with 3-4 meter wide sidewalks and a system of parks and trees.
