A corner of the Phan Rang-Thap Cham City Center regulating lake in the sub-project. (Photo: Nguyen Trung)

At the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Huy, Director of the Department of Capacity Building and Implementation of ODA Water Sector Projects in Ninh Thuan Province, said that the project aims to improve environmental sanitation conditions, enhance health and quality of life for local people. The project also aims to improve inner-city traffic and develop drainage infrastructure, thereby minimizing flooding in the area.

The project spans 16 communes/wards of Phan Rang - Thap Cham city, focusing on investment in canals, urban traffic, wastewater collection and treatment systems, and public sanitation facilities. Despite many difficulties during implementation, the project was completed on schedule thanks to the efforts of the investor, construction units, and the support and consensus of local authorities and people.

Some of the project's outstanding items include: Phan Dang Luu resettlement area with an area of ​​5.63 hectares and 275 plots of land, 16.2 km of newly built embankments and canals, 82.5 km of primary, secondary and tertiary drainage and wastewater systems, and more than 20 km of urban roads. In particular, the city's wastewater treatment plant has been upgraded from 5,000 m³/day/night to 7,500 m³/day/night, meeting the growing needs of the locality.

According to the investor’s report, the project was not only completed but also exceeded the initial target. The number of people benefiting from the project increased 1.4 times compared to the plan, and the number of people with access to environmental sanitation increased 1.1 times. The drainage systems have been effective, quickly resolving the flooding situation, contributing to making the city more spacious and clean.

Ms. Elif Ayhan, Sustainable Development Program Manager of the World Bank Office in Hanoi, acknowledged the impressive achievements of the project, emphasizing the outstanding resilience of Ninh Thuan province. She said that the project has overcome many challenges, including complying with the World Bank's procedures, responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and resolving complex land clearance requirements.

The inauguration of the project “Sustainable Environment of Coastal Cities” not only contributes to improving people's quality of life but also aims to develop smart, modern and sustainable urban areas in the future.