Can Tho City People's Committee has approved the list of lakes and ponds not allowed to be filled, including 8 lakes and 2 water storage ponds in 6 communes and wards.
Those are Bung Xang and Xang Thoi lakes (Ninh Kieu ward); freshwater reservoirs (Vinh Tuong commune); Nuoc Ngot lake (Soc Trang ward); Sen and Tam Giac lakes in area 4, Sen lake in area 5 (Vi Thanh ward); Xang Thoi lake (Nga Bay ward). There are 2 reservoirs belonging to the list including reservoir 1 and reservoir 2 in My Phuoc commune.
Notably, the appendix attached to the decision of the Can Tho City People's Committee shows that each pond and lake mentioned above has a different function.
Accordingly, the freshwater reservoir (Vinh Tuong commune) has the function of proactively supplying water in the dry season, regulating water storage in the flood season to serve water sources for living and production, meeting the requirements of socio-economic development and water security.
Bung Xang Lake (Ninh Kieu ward) helps create environmental landscape, prevent urban flooding, and regulate microclimate.
Xang Thoi Lake (Ninh Kieu ward) creates environmental landscape and micro-climate regulation.
Xang Thoi Lake (Nga Bay ward) has the function of drainage and urban flood control.
Ngot Lake (Soc Trang ward) used to serve people's livelihoods.
The remaining 3 lakes have drainage and flood control functions. 2 water storage ponds to prevent and combat forest fires.
On this basis, the People's Committee of Can Tho City has requested localities to regularly monitor, inspect, promptly detect and prevent violations, especially encroachment and leveling that affect water source quality, environmental landscape, drainage capacity, flood prevention and safety of water sources for living and production.
Notably, the decision of Can Tho City People's Committee also clearly states that organizations and individuals directly managing lakes and ponds on the list are responsible for using them for the right purpose, not arbitrarily leveling or renovating; strictly control the situation of encroachment, illegal construction, and direct discharge of garbage, domestic wastewater, production, and business into lakes and ponds. When violations are detected, they must promptly notify and coordinate with competent authorities to handle them according to regulations.
After merging with Hau Giang and Soc Trang provinces, Can Tho City only has a natural area of about 6,360 km2 and a population size of over 4.19 million people.
Every year, from August to December, widespread deep flooding often occurs in the city, often coinciding with the time when floods on the river reach their peak and high tides.
According to general assessment, the causes of flooding in Can Tho City include many factors, most of which are geographical location and terrain conditions. For many years, the city has invested in many flood prevention works such as river dykes, boat shelters, and regulating lakes, contributing to reducing the impact of heavy rain and high tides.
