Enterprises join to clean-up city lakes

HA NOI— More than VND609 billion (US$32 million) has been pledged by 17 enterprises to fund the upgrading of the city's lakes in the 10 days following the city People's Committee call for financial assistance.

The initial money will be transferred through direct funding or methods of BOT (Building-Operation-Transfer) and BT (Building-Transfer) to improve 15 of the city's lakes, including Phuong Liet 2 in Thanh Xuan District, Thach Ban 1, Vuc, Tan Thuy and Dau Bang in Long Bien District; Tu Lien, Va and Dam Tri in Tay Ho District.

According to the city's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the prioritised lakes are some of the city's most polluted. They are also being encroached upon by surrounding households and urgently need their boundaries fixed by embankments.

Enterprises offering funding include Thung Lung Vua Company with VND50 billion ($2.6 million), New House Company with VND30 billion ($1.5 million), Ha Noi General Export Import Corporation VND27 billion ($1.4 million), and Him Lam Company VND25 billion ($1.3 million).

For enterprises to complete the projects to deadline, the municipal People's Committee has asked localities to begin clearing land and preparing for the project's implementation.

Nguyen The Thao, chairman of the committee said that the city would provide incentives for enterprises involved in the clean-up, including preferential treatment in land clearance, land usage, taxes or compensation costs.

"Enterprises can fast-track complaints related to the projects to city leaders," said Thao.

The clean-up of the city's lakes will continue until 2015 at a total cost of $76 million. — VNS