Authorities dialogue and handle issues reported by Nghe An Newspaper

(Baonghean.vn) - After Nghe An Newspaper reported on the backlog in land acquisition and resettlement for the Khe Bo hydropower project, the authorities had a dialogue with the people and handled the case.

On February 2, 2017, Nghe An Newspaper published an article“Resettlement of Khe Bo Hydropower Project: When will it be completely resolved?”On February 22, 2017, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 1012/UBND-CN directing the Department of Industry and Trade to coordinate with relevant agencies and the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district to verify and clarify the content reported in the newspaper.

On March 14, 2017, in Tuong Duong district, the Department of Industry and Trade held a working session with relevant parties. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Bui Tram - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, with the participation of representatives of the Department of Industry and Trade, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development; representatives of the People's Council and People's Committee of Tuong Duong district; leaders of communes related to the project; representatives of the Khe Bo Hydropower Project Management Board. Nghe An Newspaper had the participation of Mr. Tran Van Hung - Deputy Editor-in-Chief and author of the article.

Overview of the working session. Photo: PV

At the dialogue, representatives of the Khe Bo Hydropower Project Management Board and the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district reported on the situation of resolving backlogs in land acquisition and resettlement; summarized the issues that the newspaper said were not accurate (reports have been sent to the Provincial People's Committee and a number of functional agencies).

These are contents related to the data on the resettlement compensation fund that has been paid; the fact that the Provincial People's Committee did not respond when the investor requested to consider not paying the support fund to overcome poverty; the fact that people had no electricity after 3 years of the project being put into operation; there were signs of loss of compensation fund for site clearance; some members of the Compensation Council for Site Clearance and Resettlement showed signs of violating state financial management, so the investigation agency posted related documents...

Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper, Mr. Tran Van Hung, affirmed that the information reported by the newspaper is closely related to documents and reports of the People's Council and People's Committee of Tuong Duong district and the real backlog in compensation, support, and resettlement of the Khe Bo hydropower project. Photo: PV

At the dialogue, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper, Mr. Tran Van Hung affirmed that since the Khe Bo Hydropower Project came into operation (May 2013) until now, the implementation of the compensation policy to support land acquisition and resettlement approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 4027/QD-UBND.CNXD dated August 18, 2009 still has many backlogs. This is a matter of concern for people in the project area. And this content has been reported by many press agencies, including Nghe An Newspaper, in the past.

About the content of the article“Resettlement of Khe Bo Hydropower Project: When will it be completely resolved?”, Nghe An Newspaper reporters have closely followed the contents of official dispatches and reports provided by the People's Council and People's Committee of Tuong Duong district; only one content about household electricity is old information, but it is also one of the outstanding issues that has occurred in some villages of Tam Dinh commune. Therefore, it is affirmed that the information reported by the newspaper is completely accurate.

Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Tuong Duong district, Mr. Vi Tan Hoi affirmed that the supervision report of the district People's Council was grasped from the grassroots reality and was discussed with the district People's Committee before being released. Photo: PV

Mr. Vi Tan Hoi - Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Tuong Duong district informed that the People's Council of the district conducted supervision at the grassroots level. The basis for supervision was the compensation and support contents for land acquisition and resettlement approved by the Provincial People's Committee and the compensation and support records prepared for households. After completing the supervision contents, the People's Council of the district held a meeting to discuss and agree on information with the People's Committee of the district; before issuing, it reported to the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee.

Present at the dialogue, leaders of Tam Dinh, Yen Thang, Thach Giam, Tam Thai communes agreed with the content of the newspaper. In addition, they continued to reflect on the shortcomings in compensation and resettlement (Yen Thang commune has 7 groups; Tam Dinh commune has 5 groups; Tam Thai commune has 7 groups; Thach Giam commune has 6 groups), thereby requesting the District People's Committee and the investor to consider and resolve.

The National Highway 7A flood avoidance project through Thach Giam commune is under construction. Photo: PV

Representatives of the Departments participating in the working group also had many opinions; all of them agreed that the information reported in the newspaper was correct; the fact that the project has been in operation for 4 years but has not yet resolved all policies for the people is too slow. It is recommended that the Tuong Duong District Land Acquisition Council and the investor coordinate to have a specific roadmap to thoroughly resolve policies for the people.

Based on the opinions of the relevant parties, the investor has committed to coordinate with the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district and related communes to implement policies for the people according to the decision approved by the Provincial People's Committee (including policies to support households to overcome poverty), consider resolving policies outside the regulations that the investor and the District Compensation and Site Clearance Council have promised to the people during the project implementation process; focus on completing the flood bypass on National Highway 7A...

At the end of the dialogue, Mr. Bui Tram - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade concluded: Through the summary report of the investor and the opinions of the participating parties, it was agreed that the content of the article of Nghe An Newspaper is correct and objective.

Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, Mr. Bui Tram concluded the working session. Photo: PV

For unresolved issues, the District Compensation and Site Clearance Council is requested to coordinate with the investor to promptly implement them. Overcome existing issues and obstacles, and implement the approved compensation plan before May 30, 2017. Regarding the issue of policy payments to poor households, the investor must implement them before April 30, 2017.

At the same time, assess additional damages incurred by the people due to the investment in the construction of the Khe Bo hydropower project but not included in the previous compensation plan. Conduct on-site inspections at locations with reported damages to examine, consider, and properly resolve for the people according to regulations.

Propose that the People's Council, People's Committee of Tuong Duong district and Nghe An Newspaper regularly monitor the coordination between the Compensation and Site Clearance Council and the investor in implementing the concluded contents./.

PV Group