The person who brought us the good news was Mr. Nguyen Cong Truong - Head of the Do Luong District Construction Investment Project Management Board. The good news originated from Document No. 316/STC-NST dated January 24, 2024 of the Department of Finance regarding the investment policy for the construction of the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele, Do Luong District.
The content of Document No. 316/STC-NST is as follows:“Based on the project's ability to balance capital sources, the Department of Finance requests the Department of Planning and Investment to report to the Provincial People's Committee for approval of the project investment policy: Construction of the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele, Do Luong district, about 5,000 million VND (5 billion VND) (including sources: Increased revenue, budget savings; Central government provides additional targeted annual support). Expected time of arrangement: 3 years from the date of approval of the investment policy.
For the remaining funding, the Department of Planning and Investment is requested to coordinate with the People's Committee of Do Luong district and relevant agencies to support from other legal sources (if any) such as the district budget and socialized sources. In case the proposed funding source cannot be met, the Investor shall reduce the scale in accordance with the project's capital allocation capacity.
The Do Luong District Construction Investment Project Management Board is the unit assigned by the Do Luong District People's Committee to study the State's regulations to prepare a report and propose an investment policy for the Hiep Hoa Cement Memorial Monument construction project. Understanding the nature of the project, the hopes of the deceased's relatives and society, and the political responsibility of the district, with his role, Mr. Nguyen Cong Truong always hopes that the project will be implemented soon. To do so, the decisive factor is to ensure investment capital. In November 2023, when the Do Luong District People's Committee asked for comments on the project's investment policy, the Department of Planning and Investment issued a supplementary guidance document, including the following comments:"Regarding the provincial budget capital from development investment sources, the competent authorities have approved the medium-term public investment plan for the period 2021 - 2025, so there is no more capital to arrange according to the unit's proposal."Also included are instructions:“Regarding provincial budget capital (other than public investment), the District People's Committee is requested to work with the Department of Finance to determine the capital source before completing the investment proposal dossier…”.
>> “Hiep Hoa, the unfulfilled promise...”
Receiving the guidance from the Department of Planning and Investment, in several conversations with Nghe An Newspaper reporters, the Head of this Department expressed his concern. Because according to him, the project start-up timeline may have to be extended...
Based on that, as soon as he received Document No. 316/STC-NST dated January 24, 2024 from the Department of Finance, Mr. Nguyen Cong Truong was very happy, recognizing that the project to build the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele had basically removed the "bottleneck" of funding. Mr. Nguyen Cong Truong said: "The district will soon request the consulting unit to urgently edit and complete the dossier so that the Department of Planning and Investment can report to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and approval of the project investment policy as instructed by the Department of Finance...".
Going back in time, because the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial project was delayed, on June 20, 2023, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting with the participation of a number of relevant Departments, the Provincial Youth Union and leaders of Do Luong district to find a new plan to ensure feasibility.
At this meeting, the hope for a cultural, historical, and spiritual project associated with tourism was opened when Secretary of Do Luong District Party Committee Bui Duy Dong - representative of the local leaders where the Hiep Hoa culvert project is located - presented the idea, expressing determination to carry it out "if assigned by the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee". The leader chairing the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long, then assigned the task, requesting Do Luong district to make efforts in preparing for the project investment; strive to hold the groundbreaking ceremony for the project by January 3, 2024 - the anniversary of the deaths at Hiep Hoa culvert in 1978.
After the 3-day meeting, the Provincial People's Committee issued Notice No. 446/TB-UBND, assigning tasks to the People's Committee of Do Luong district:“Proposing the investment policy for the project to build the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele (including project name, investor, investment objective, scale, total investment, capital structure, location, time and progress of implementation) to report to the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee for consideration and decision in accordance with regulations”.
In carrying out the assigned tasks, the Party Committee and the government of Do Luong district determined that when the project is completed, it must achieve the goal of commemorating the merits of those who died during the construction of Hiep Hoa culvert, meeting the wishes of the relatives of the deceased and promoting the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source" of the Vietnamese people. In addition, the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele must become a historical, cultural, spiritual and tourist destination in the area. Therefore, after conducting the steps of surveying and researching the current land status, consulting units were invited to participate in the draft design, estimate construction... Then, on November 7, 2023, Report No. 446/BC-UBND proposed the investment policy to build the project "Construction of Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele, Do Luong district" to the Provincial People's Committee, Departments: Planning and Investment, Finance, Culture and Sports, Agriculture and Rural Development.
Having seen the Report on the proposed investment policy for the project to build the Hiep Hoa sewer memorial stele established by Do Luong district, it can be seen that the investment capital has been outstanding with a total investment of 10 billion VND; exceeding the estimate established by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2019. However, through the draft design, it can be envisioned that in the future, the Hiep Hoa sewer memorial stele will be a large-scale project, promising to become a historical - cultural and spiritual destination associated with tourism of the province, not just of Do Luong district!
This is determined because the Hiep Hoa culvert memorial stele was determined to be built on a hill with an existing temple, about 160m from the main canal operator's house on the right bank with a total land area of up to 4,000m2.2Regarding construction items, in addition to the Memorial House, there are many additional auxiliary works to create landscapes, green tree systems, parking lots for visitors to offer incense, flower lantern landings, entrances and exits to the landing, lighting systems, etc.
And as engineer Dinh Nghia (one of the participants in the design research) told us, he himself participated in the field survey, which showed that the location chosen by the People's Committee of Do Luong district ensured the site for the project. To develop the design draft, the group studied the event of January 3, 1978, the useful functions of the canal as well as Hiep Hoa culvert for the province's agricultural sector over the past many years. From there, they tried to convey the full meaning through the blocks and shapes of the project items...
By Document No. 316/STC-NST dated January 24, 2024, the Department of Finance reminded“For the remaining funding, the Department of Planning and Investment is requested to coordinate with the People's Committee of Do Luong district and relevant agencies to support from other legal sources (if any) such as the district budget and socialized sources. In case the proposed funding source cannot be met, the Investor shall reduce the scale in accordance with the project's capital allocation capacity.”So, on January 29, 2024, we conducted a quick interview with Do Luong District Party Secretary Bui Duy Dong on this issue.
According to Mr. Bui Duy Dong, the canal leading water from Lam River and Hiep Hoa culvert is a project of great economic, social and political significance to the province. During the construction of Hiep Hoa culvert, on January 3, 1978, an unfortunate work accident occurred. Over the years, relatives of the deceased and the whole society have always wished for a memorial project for the deceased, located next to Hiep Hoa culvert. Do Luong district has also received many opinions expressing this wish. In 2018, the Provincial Party Committee had a policy to carry out the project, after that, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to carry out the project. However, due to problems with regulations, it has not been implemented. On the part of Do Luong district, this is considered a very important project. Although the district's budget is still difficult and limited, it is not impossible to implement it. However, this is a provincial-level project, which is of interest to the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee; Up to now, the Department of Finance has been assigned to determine the capital source. Therefore, Do Luong district has determined to balance the district budget and mobilize socialized capital through contributions from benefactors, so that the project can achieve the goal of being both a spiritual project to honor the deceased; at the same time, a tourist destination for the young generation to remember a glorious period of socialist labor.
Do Luong district plans to prepare and submit for appraisal the outline and plan for selecting a consulting contractor in the Investment Proposal Report for the construction of the Hiep Hoa Sluice Monument by January 2024; submit for approval the outline and plan for selecting a consulting contractor; from February to March 2024, prepare the construction drawing design - estimate, submit for appraisal and approval of the project; in May 2024, organize the selection of a construction contractor to start construction in June 2024. The implementation progress will not exceed 12 months from the time of the groundbreaking ceremony.
