Following the request of General Secretary To Lam, Hanoi Chairman sets date to revive To Lich River

On the morning of December 2, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh inspected the progress of the Yen Xa wastewater treatment system project and implemented measures to clean up the To Lich River.

Reporting to the city leaders, Mr. Hoang Trong Tung, Director of the Hanoi City Department of Construction Investment and Agricultural Infrastructure Project Management, said that up to now, Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant with a capacity of 270,000m3/day and night has been completed and is in the process of trial operation.

For the construction package of the sewer system for To Lich River and the main sewer, the completed volume to date has reached about 98% compared to the contract. Of which, 100% of the entire pipeline has been completed and wastewater has been brought to the factory since May 29, 2024. Currently, the construction unit is returning the site of the package.

Regarding the package to build a sewer system for the Lu River, Hanoi is completing documents to request opinions from relevant units to approve the policy of adjusting capital sources from ODA to the city budget. The package to build a sewer system for a part of the Ha Dong area has completed about 22% of the work volume.

During the inspection, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh paid special attention to the issue of ensuring the flow to "revive" the To Lich River, when wastewater has been collected through pipes to Yen Xa Factory for treatment.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Hoang Trong Tung, Director of the Project Management Board, proposed that the Hanoi People's Committee study the plan to add water from the Red River to West Lake. Then, water from West Lake will be added to the To Lich River through a separate pipeline. "With this plan, in about 6 months, there will be water from the Red River to clean the To Lich River," said Mr. Tung.

At the meeting, the Management Board of Investment Projects for Construction of Technical Infrastructure and Agriculture, along with the factory leaders and the Hanoi Department of Construction discussed the project's sludge treatment and water supply from West Lake to To Lich River.

The Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee said that the construction of the Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant and the To Lich river underground sewer system was behind schedule, but the units had made efforts to complete it. Mr. Tran Sy Thanh hoped that the bidding package for the Lu river sewer system and the construction of a sewer system for part of the Ha Dong area would ensure the progress as committed.

Regarding the work of adding water from West Lake to To Lich River, Mr. Tran Sy Thanh said that the city leaders have decided to urgently implement the project; assigned the Department of Construction to preside with departments, branches, project management boards and localities to speed up the project progress.

Mr. Tran Sy Thanh gave a deadline of 3 months to complete the procedures and 6 months to construct the water supply system from the Red River to West Lake to create a flow for the To Lich River.

“In any circumstances or conditions, the project must be completed by September 2, 2025,” the Chairman of the City People’s Committee emphasized, noting that during the implementation process, special attention must be paid to the plan to protect the ecological environment and ecosystem of West Lake and replenish water from the lake to To Lich River.

Previously, on November 27, at a working session with the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee, General Secretary To Lam spent a lot of time talking about two very important issues: environmental pollution and traffic congestion. In particular, the immediate task is to handle water pollution, especially the To Lich River.

At the meeting, Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh said that the city has resolutely directed the issue of wastewater pollution treatment. Up to now, the city has had 6 centralized wastewater treatment plants/stations according to the capital's drainage planning invested in, built and put into operation, mainly concentrated in the central urban area south of the Red River - To Lich River basin and part of Ta Nhue basin with a total treatment capacity of 314,300 m3/day and night.

Along with the trial operation of Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hanoi is directing, completing and approving the Project "Restoring environmental quality and developing the system of 4 inner-city rivers: To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, Set".

On the basis of thoroughly collecting wastewater discharged into To Lich River, operating the Yen Xa wastewater treatment system well, investing in renovating and upgrading the landscape along both river banks, it is expected that in 2025, the environment and landscape of To Lich River will change positively, effectively serving the people of the Capital.