PRESS RELEASE

Ground Breaking Ceremony for Yen So Pumping Station under Second Hanoi Drainage Project for Environment Improvement
Hanoi November 13th, 2008: Construction of the second phase of Yen So Pumping Station kicks off today with the presence of Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as the funding agency, leaders from the Hanoi city, related authorities and people involved in the implementation of this project. The topographic condition of Hanoi is low and flat having lower ground level than the high water levels of rivers and channels, making it prone to flooding. However, the citys drainage facilities had been limited in capacity and therefore resulted in frequent inundation, which sometimes lasted for a few days. In 1994, JICA assisted the development of Hanois Master Plan for Drainage and Sewerage System. During 1995-2007, Stage I of the Hanoi Drainage Project was carried out under former JBICs (now JICAs) ODA loans, aiming at handling the flood condition at 172mm rainfall for two days, which equivalent to one half of the total drainage facilities envisaged under the master plan. Stage I of the Project has remarkably improved the drainage capacity in terms of flooded area and the period of inundation compared with the conditions before the project implementation, and at the same time has enhanced the citys environment and landscape through the improvement of major lakes. In response to the request by the Government of Vietnam, in 2006 former JBIC continued to provide ODA loan to further upgrade the citys drainage and sewerage system, in order to cope up with rainfall of 310mm for two days with 10 years return period, in light of the targeted protection level set forth in the master plan. Stage II of the project comprises of 13 packages covering the upgrading of Yen So Pumping Station to increase its capacity to 90m3/s, dredging of 27km of drainage channels in To Lich, Hoang Liet, Lu, Set, Kim Nguu river basins, replacement of bridges over the drainage channel, improvement of 12 lakes, construction of 29km of sewer line, improvement of 30km of service roads along To Lich, Lu and Set rivers, construction of a wastewater treatment plant in Thong Nhat park with capacity of 13,300m3/day, and consulting services for detailed design and construction supervision. Stage II is scheduled be completed by the end of 2011.

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Civil works for Yen So Pumping Station is the first package to be implemented under Stage II. It is the most important facility to discharge rainwater to the Red River. The works will be constructed by the joint venture of Hanoi Construction Corporation (HCC) and Corporation of Agriculture Irrigation Mechanization Electrification Construction (AGRIMECO), under the supervision of consultant Nippon KoeiVIWASE. Once Stage II is completed, it is expected that inundation will be dramatically minimized and if occurred will be limited to only several hours, if the rainfall magnitude is within the design conditions. However, in order to keep pace with the rapid urbanization and expansion of Hanoi, it is recommended to start to review the plans for the future system. JICA is willing to join hands with the citys authorities for this important work. Taking this opportunity, we would like to call for the cooperation of all Hanoi citizens for proper functioning of the drainage and sewerage facilities. Garbage should not be thrown to into rivers, channels, and drains, appropriate periodical maintenance and cleaning works should be secured, and the sewerage fees should be paid. We are working on this issue under our technical assistance Implementation Support for 3R Initiative for a Sound Material-cycle Society in Hanoi. JBICs ODA operations to Vietnam resumed in November 1992 and loans have been provided annually since then. At present, the cumulative commitment of JBIC ODA loans to Vietnam has reached 1,250 billion Japanese Yen (equivalent to about US$12 billion), covering 66 development projects and 8 program loans. Among which, assistance to Hanoi city has been given high priority with projects on development of transport infrastructure, urban infrastructure, sewerage and drainage system, and higher

PRESS RELEASE education. In parallel, JICA has been providing Hanoi with abundant supports in the area of human resource development, health, traffic safety, and environment improvement. As a result of the merger of JBIC ODA Loan and JICA since October 1st 2008, new JICA is now able to provide a comprehensive cooperation covering loans, technical assistance, and grant aid. For further information, please contact: JICA Vietnam Office 16 Flr., 360 Kim Ma St., Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: 84-4-3831 5005~8 Fax: 84-4-38315009 Mr. Taro Katsurai, Senior Project Formulation Advisor