Tuyen Quang expands access to clean water

The northern province of Tuyen Quang plans to increase the number of rural residents getting clean water this year by 1.5 per cent over 2009. This means that at least 11,000 residents will have clean water for daily use by the end of this year.

Towards this, the province will build 63 new water supply stations, spending about VND500-700 million (US$27,173-38,043) for each. Each station will serve between 100 and 200 families. The province will also support residents in upgrading and installing an additional 5,000 bore wells.

Many mountainous communes in the province have benefited from the State's investment in clean water supply. It has helped reduce the rate of people contracting water borne diseases including trachoma and skin problems by 10 to 30 per cent.

NHAN DAN (The People)

Ha Noi withdraws parking station permits

The Department of Transport of Ha Noi has withdrawn licences granted to 51 parking lots in Hoan Kiem District in a bid to reduce traffic congestion and ease the paths of pedestrians. Nguyen Quoc Hung, head of the department, has also said that they would co-operate with the city police to implement urgent measures to curb traffic jams during Tet. The police would reroute traffic on 11 roads and junctions while the department would upgrade several roads, he said.

THANH NIEN (The Young)

Issue of new health insurance cards to end

The Viet Nam Social Insurance Agency has said it would complete the issuing of new health insurance cards by the end of this month. Around 40 million new health insurance cards so far have been issued, but it is estimated that around half the number of children under six, many retirees and poor people are still to receive theirs. According to the agency, nearly 15 million people have bought voluntary health insurance cards this year.

NGUOI LAO DONG (The Labourer)