Drainage project nearing 20 years unbuilt has already disbursed over 36 billion dong

A nearly two-decade-old project to improve drainage and wastewater treatment in Ca Mau, Vietnam, has spent more than 36 billion Vietnamese dong ($1.4 million USD) without any construction work beginning, according to provincial inspection authorities.

The "Renovation and Construction of Drainage and Wastewater Treatment System in Ca Mau City (Old), Phase 1" project was first approved in 2007. Its initial estimated investment was over 399 billion dong, including ODA and domestic counterpart funds. However, after two adjustments in 2015 and 2020, the total investment capital was revised to over 567 billion dong.

Despite the extensive planning period, the project has only completed preparatory stages such as surveys, design, environmental impact assessments, and land acquisition for the wastewater treatment plant. The total disbursed amount includes over 13 billion dong in ODA and more than 23 billion dong in domestic funds. Crucially, the selection of a contractor for construction has not yet occurred.

Provincial inspectors concluded that the project has failed to meet its intended goals and expectations. Meanwhile, the existing drainage system remains inadequate, causing flooding and environmental pollution that negatively impacts residents' lives and health, particularly in the context of climate change and rising sea levels. The inspection also revealed shortcomings in the consulting process, with initial reports lacking complete cost and workload data, leading to an underestimated total investment and significant delays.