Provincial Party Secretary: Must ensure people have housing and no hunger after floods

Provincial Party Secretary inspects landslides in Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Reporting to the Provincial Party Secretary and the working delegation, the leader of Tuong Duong district said that the floods that occurred in the area in 2 days (August 30 and 31) caused damage to 239 houses, of which 5 houses collapsed, 10 houses were swept away, 37 houses had to be urgently evacuated, 185 houses were flooded, 2 houses were eroded and damaged.

Houses of people in Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district collapsed due to river landslide. Photo: Thanh Duy

Many points on Route 543B, National Highway 7A... were flooded from 1 to 3 meters deep. The Cua Rao 2 suspension bridge was also flooded, the approach roads at both ends of the bridge and the bridge abutment were damaged; 3 schools, 1 commune People's Committee headquarters, 1 clinic, 1 post office were flooded over 1 meter deep. Tuong Duong district also suffered damage to agriculture and aquaculture due to flooded fields, fish cages, and poultry being swept away...

The Provincial Party Secretary discussed and encouraged people whose houses are at risk of landslides in Minh Phuong village, Luong Minh commune, who are taking temporary shelter at Luong Minh Primary School - Tuong Duong. Photo: Thanh Duy

Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district Nguyen Van Hai proposed that the Provincial People's Committee establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to assess the damage, clarify the causes and responsibilities of hydropower plants and related units to have policies to overcome the recent damage; at the same time, re-evaluate the inter-reservoir operation process, re-set flood markers of reservoir beds to have prevention and handling plans; build an information and early warning system.

Tuong Duong district proposed the Provincial People's Committee to support 1 billion VND for natural disaster prevention, control and search and rescue work in 2018 for the district to continue to ensure the implementation of the "4 on-site" motto; urgently evacuate 34 households in the Nam Non Hydropower Reservoir and Yen Tinh Commune Boarding Secondary School...

Provincial Party Secretary presents gifts to affected people in Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district who are being relocated. Photo: Thanh Duy

On the same afternoon, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh and the delegation worked with Con Cuong district on natural disaster prevention, control and search and rescue. Previously, storm No. 4 from August 16 to 22 combined with flood discharge from hydropower projects upstream of Ca River (Lam River), caused more than 67.5 billion VND in damage.

Vice Chairman of Con Cuong District People's Committee Lo Van Thao said that the flood discharge from hydroelectric plants built upstream of Lam River from August 30 to September 1 caused landslides along both banks of Lam River passing through the district, burying and flooding agricultural land of people, flooding residential areas, especially Chom Lom suspension bridge had one side of the bridge pier eroded.

Provincial Party Secretary inspects the situation of repairing landslides at Chom Lom suspension bridge pier, Lang Khe commune, Con Cuong district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Con Cuong district proposed the province to support funding for urgent repair and restoration of Chom Lom suspension bridge with 3.5 billion VND; urgently relocate 2 schools: Bong Khe Primary School 2 (3 billion VND), Boarding Secondary School (5 billion VND); have policies to support agricultural production directly affected by flood discharge from hydropower plants; have a roadmap to prevent landslides on both banks of Lam River; propose to have a mechanism for hydropower enterprises to allocate a portion of their profits to partially overcome the consequences caused by hydropower.

After listening to the opinions of leaders of several sectors, concluding the working session in Tuong Duong and Con Cuong districts, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh acknowledged that the districts have well implemented the "4 on-site" motto, proactively and promptly handled situations.

For Tuong Duong district,Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh emphasized that the district must ensure that people have a place to live, do not go hungry, and ensure that their children can go to school; especially in the process of implementing support policies and regimes for the people, it must be timely and transparent. The Provincial Party Secretary also requested the police force to investigate and strictly handle those spreading rumors about the Ban Ve Hydropower Dam breaking; and study plans to install an alarm system to warn people about floods.

The Provincial Party Secretary discussed and encouraged Mr. Lo Hoai Minh in Minh Phuong village, Luong Minh commune, whose house was affected by river erosion. Photo: Thanh Duy

Regarding Con Cuong district, the Provincial Party Secretary acknowledged that the district has proactively taken action, issues related to people have been handled relatively well, and the district has provided immediate direct support.

The Provincial Party Secretary also requested relevant departments and branches to work with the district to fix the landslide at Chom Lom bridge; support the urgent relocation of two schools as proposed and the district needs to make a report to the Provincial People's Committee for specific calculations; support the construction of Thanh Nam bridge across Lam river.

The head of the Provincial Party Committee also expressed concern that landslides on the Lam River bank directly affected people's lives and traffic, so he asked Con Cuong district to grasp the situation and discuss with the traffic sector to promptly handle emergency situations. The province will also have a comprehensive long-term solution to this problem.

Regarding the recommendations on agricultural support from Tuong Duong and Con Cuong districts, the Provincial Party Secretary said that support will be provided according to policy; requesting the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control of Nghe An and localities to do better and more harmoniously from both sides.

Regarding the responsibility of hydropower plants for the flooding situation that localities have proposed, the Provincial Party Secretary also clearly emphasized the view that hydropower plants must have the responsibility to truly care for the affected people; at the same time, he said that the province will establish an interdisciplinary team to assess the overall damage and responsibility.

In Tuong Duong district, the Provincial Party Secretary inspected the situation directly in Luong Minh commune and encouraged the police and military forces who are helping people who have to be evacuated due to riverbank landslides.

The Provincial Party Secretary went to the house to learn about the situation and encouraged and gave gifts to the family of Mr. Lo Hoai Minh in Minh Phuong village, Luong Minh commune, one of the households that had to relocate their house.

The Provincial Party Secretary also visited and encouraged households with houses at risk of landslides who have been temporarily staying at Luong Minh Primary School for the past 3 days; at the same time, he affirmed that the Party Committee and the government will make every effort to stabilize people's lives soon. On this occasion, the Provincial Party Secretary presented 31 gifts to households affected by floods and landslides in Luong Minh commune.

Comrade Nguyen Dac Vinh also requested the leaders of Tuong Duong district and Luong Minh commune to soon resettle households, especially to study the interlacing form.

In Con Cuong district, the Provincial Party Secretary inspected the situation of repairing the landslide at Chom Lom suspension bridge in Lang Khe commune.