Lesson 2: When the people's hearts are united
The commissioning of the 500kV circuit 3 Quang Trach (Quang Binh) - Pho Noi (Hung Yen) power line is of special significance in many aspects: economic, political, social, security, and national defense. The project demonstrates the faith and strength of national unity, reflecting the principle of putting the people first under the leadership of the Party, the collective effort and solidarity of the entire political system; it is a symbol of the spirit of national unity; the aspirations, faith, and resilience of the Vietnamese people; turning the impossible into the possible. It is rare to see a project with such high levels of public consensus, where people readily relinquished their land, homes, and even places of worship to allow the project to be implemented. This unity is what led to the project's success.
The people's will is the key to a bright electric light.
We arrived at Hamlet 22, Quynh Vinh Commune (Hoang Mai Town) a month before the entire power line was switched on. Mr. Phung Van Son led us to the location of the newly installed power pole. This location is part of the production forest area that his family has been managing under the State's management for decades.
Mr. Son's family was one of the first households in Quynh Vinh commune to hand over forest land for the 500kV power line project (circuit 3). Mr. Son also stated that 15 households in Hamlet 22, Quynh Vinh commune, were directly affected when the power line passed through their area. By mid-July 2024, all foundations and poles had been installed. Remarkably, all households unanimously agreed with the government's, provincial, and town's policies without receiving "a single penny of compensation from the State for land clearance," according to Mr. Phung Van Son.
In Quynh Vinh, a locality bordering Thanh Hoa province, many key national and provincial projects have been and are being implemented. These include: the North-South Expressway (Eastern section), Hoang Mai II Industrial Park, and the project to build a flood bypass road to serve rescue operations and climate change response…
According to Mr. Phung Van Son, the Prime Minister's call to action for the 500kV Circuit 3 power line project was a sacred rallying cry. It embodied the spirit of "only discussing action, not retreating," "overcoming the sun and rain," "eating quickly, sleeping urgently," and "working day and night" to accelerate the project's progress. In particular, since the decision to reclaim forest and forestry land in the area for the project, the entire political system of Hoang Mai town, from the town's leaders to Quynh Vinh commune, the Party committees, and the Front Committees of the villages and hamlets, went to every house, checking names to spread the word and mobilize the people to agree, cooperate, and wholeheartedly support the construction.
According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Doan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Vinh commune, the 500kV power line project (circuit 3) passing through Quynh Vinh commune, Hoang Mai town, is 5.1 km long. The total area of land permanently acquired for the construction of power pole foundations is 29,849.6 m².2Mr. Doan added that, in order for the project to be implemented on schedule and according to the directives of the Government, the province, and the town, all officials, Party members, civil servants, and employees of Quynh Vinh commune have been thoroughly briefed on the project's information and knowledge.
In the political system, regardless of who they are or what position they hold, whether they are Party committee members, civil servants, Front Committee officials, or members of mass organizations, everyone participates in mass mobilization work. Regardless of holidays, sunny or rainy days, early mornings or late nights, whenever needed, members of the working groups go to the site to mobilize people to support the project and clear the land. This is an experience that officials and people in Quynh Vinh commune have learned from the land clearance work for the North-South Expressway Project two years ago.
Located within the construction area of the 500kV circuit 3 power line, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Son's farm in Thien Tan hamlet, Thuong Tan Loc commune, Nam Dan district, had nearly 1,000 square meters of land confiscated.2land. Dozens of longan trees, which had provided economic benefits to the family for the past 15 years, were voluntarily cut down to make way for the construction of the foundation for the electricity pole at location 325. Many families in Nghe An, like Mr. Son's family, have been willing to sacrifice personal interests for the national interest.
The State's policy of constructing the 500kV circuit 3 power line is entirely correct in ensuring the distribution of electricity to serve the country's daily life and socio-economic development. Through the propaganda and mobilization efforts of all levels and sectors, my family has recognized the importance of the project and has supported it, creating favorable conditions for the construction unit to ensure the progress. With the spirit of contributing our small part to the completion of this key national project.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Son lives in Thuong Tan Loc commune, Nam Dan district.
Meanwhile, the family of Catholic parishioner Pham Van Vien in Hamlet 7, Nghi Van Commune (Nghi Loc District) owns 200 square meters of land.2The land is located entirely within the area where the 500kV power line passes through. After being informed about the project's objectives by the authorities at all levels, the family accepted the compensation plan and handed over the land.
"Thanks to the awareness campaigns by all levels and sectors, the people understand the importance of the project for the development of the country and the locality. Although they haven't received compensation yet, the family agrees and is ready to hand over the land to the construction unit in time," shared Mr. Pham Van Vien, a resident of Hamlet 7, Nghi Van Commune (Nghi Loc District).
Comrade Nguyen Van Sao, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nghi Van commune (Nghi Loc district), said: To ensure the smooth handover of the land and the construction process of the project in the area, the commune's Party Committee held a meeting to clearly assign responsibilities to each individual, with the spirit of resolving issues in accordance with the law while also doing a good job of mobilizing the people. The Party Committee assigned cadres and mass organizations to approach and disseminate information so that people understand the policy, so that they understand and agree. At the same time, the locality mobilized volunteer forces from the Youth Union and militia to clear the land, the district provided machinery to level the ground; creating the best conditions for accommodation and meals for the construction unit. The construction unit, in turn, facilitated the hiring of laborers and machinery to create jobs for local people.
Addressing the people's aspirations thoroughly.
The 500kV circuit 3 power line passes through Nghi Loc district with 29 tower foundation locations in the communes of Nghi Cong Nam, Nghi Cong Bac, Nghi Lam, Nghi Kieu, and Nghi Van. 71 households, organizations, and individuals have land and property affected, with 9 households affected by land acquisition and 5 households having their entire land expropriated. To date, land clearance has been completed. However, some difficulties and obstacles regarding land compensation prices have been encountered during implementation.
To ensure the progress of land clearance for the 500kV power line corridor (circuit 3) section passing through Nghi Loc district, the Party committee, government, departments, functional forces, and local organizations in the areas where the power line passes have directly gone to the site to focus on directing and implementing post-land clearance issues to ensure the contractor's progress.
District leaders, from the District Party Secretary, the Chairman, and the Vice-Chairman of the District People's Committee, along with representatives from various departments, regularly visited the project sites to implement land clearance plans and understand the concerns and aspirations of the local people. District leaders directly visited and encouraged households whose houses and auxiliary structures were subject to land clearance along the power line corridor. They also held meetings with local authorities in areas where the 500kV power line passes to clearly define the importance of the project and the roles and responsibilities involved in carrying out assigned tasks, ensuring the project is implemented on schedule and finding solutions to address any obstacles faced by the localities.
Comrade Duong Dinh Chinh - Secretary of the Nghi Loc District Party Committee, shared: "As an area with industrial zones and key national and provincial projects, Nghi Loc district has a large volume of work related to land clearance. The locality also recognizes that land clearance is not solely the responsibility of the District People's Committee or any particular department, but requires the involvement of the entire political system, including coordination from the province to the district and grassroots levels. In addition, the district-level locality is also the unit that advises on regulations and policies related to land clearance for cases affected by the project."
As of the end of August 2024, some households in Nghi Loc district had not yet received compensation due to disagreements over support policies. To thoroughly resolve this issue, Nghi Loc district has sent a document to the province proposing solutions to overcome these difficulties. In addition, the locality has requested the Provincial People's Committee to direct relevant departments and agencies to work alongside local authorities to resolve obstacles at the grassroots level.
In Dien Chau district, the 500kV Quang Trach - Quynh Luu power line section passing through the district has a length of 22.60 km, including 47 tower foundation locations (VT), 47 pole spans (line corridor), and 18 anchor spans. Specifically: Dien Phu commune: (3 VT), Dien Loi: (5 VT), Minh Chau: (13 VT), Dien Nguyen: (4 VT), Dien Thai: (3 VT), Dien Dong: (4 VT), Dien Lien: (5 VT), Dien Lam (10 VT). The number of households affected by land acquisition is 114, and the number of households affected by the line corridor is 84.
According to Le Manh Hien, Vice Chairman of the Dien Chau District People's Committee, thanks to the proactive involvement of Party committees and authorities at all levels in propaganda and mobilization efforts, creating trust, consensus, and support from the people in the project area to complete the land clearance task for this urgent and important project, when the project was implemented, the people in the localities through which the project passed all agreed highly and were ready to hand over the land even before compensation plans were in place. At the same time, the district mobilized manpower, implemented all plans, and applied all mechanisms and policies to ensure the rights of the people when giving up their land for the project.
(To be continued)
