Con Cuong district voters reflect on delays in supporting relocation for Chi Khe hydropower plant construction

Attending the meeting with voters were representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Industry and Trade, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, along with the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Standing Committee of the Fatherland Front Committee of Con Cuong district. Photo: Thanh Quynh

At the meeting with voters, Mr. Hoang Minh Hieu - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Law Committee, representing the National Assembly Delegation, announced the expected content and program of the 3rd session of the 15th National Assembly.

The 3rd session of the 15th National Assembly is scheduled to convene at the National Assembly House from May 23 to June 17, 2022; review 5 draft laws, 4 draft resolutions and give opinions on 6 draft laws; consider and decide on socio-economic issues, state budget, supervision and important issues of the country.

The National Assembly delegates also reported briefly on the results of the activities of the provincial National Assembly delegation at the 2nd session of the 15th National Assembly and in the locality from the 2nd session to present; and reported briefly on the results of handling the petitions of voters of Con Cuong district at previous sessions.

Mr. Hoang Minh Hieu - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Law Committee informed voters about important contents of the 3rd session of the 15th National Assembly. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Con Cuong district voters expressed their joy and appreciation for the results of the activities of the provincial National Assembly Delegation in recent times, hoping that the provincial National Assembly Deputies will continue to uphold their sense of responsibility, actively participate in expressing opinions at meetings, especially on important issues of the country, issues that cause public concern, contributing to meeting requirements and expectations.

At the same time, voters also raised some opinions and recommendations on local issues. Specifically, voter Vi Dinh Tuyen - Chairman of the Fatherland Front of Lang Khe commune reflected the lack of bridges for people in Lang Khe commune in particular and Con Cuong district in general. Currently, the whole district has 13 communes and towns, with 6 communes and towns bordering Lam River, but there is currently no hard bridge connecting the two banks of the river except for one bridge under construction. This situation makes it difficult for many villagers to move, trade, and consume agricultural products. Especially in the rainy season, the Lam River rises, causing residential areas on both sides of the river to be almost isolated. Therefore, voters hope that agencies and local authorities need to have a plan to build a system of bridges for people, especially a hard bridge across Lam River.

Lam River flows through the communes of Con Cuong district. Photo: Nguyen Book.

At the same time, voters reported that the landslides on both sides of the Lam River have caused confusion and anxiety for people living in these areas. Faced with this situation, voters want a system of dykes to prevent landslides on the Lam River to ensure the safety of people living along the river. In particular, the Lam River section through Boong village in Lang Khe commune. This is a village where more than 90% of the population is Thai, with a total natural area of ​​over 550 hectares. Many areas along the Lam River are facing landslides that affect the production and residential land of the people.

Voter Luong Thi Xu Ly (Cam Lam commune) presented issues related to local people's lives. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Voters in Chau Khe commune reported that the commune has a large forest area but people cannot stabilize their lives from the forest. Because implementing the forest management and protection policy according to Decree 75/2015/ND-CP, people are paid from 200,000 to 400,000 VND per year and forest environmental services from 90,000 to 15,000 VND per hectare/year. Therefore, voters want to increase this support level so that people can ensure their lives. In particular, for poor forest areas with no economic value, it is necessary to create conditions for people to cultivate high-value forestry trees to aim for sustainable livelihoods.

Voters in Cam Lam commune have complained about the slow progress of the construction of the irrigation dam in Cam village (Cam Lam commune). The project started in 2011 but was put on hold shortly after. This has made voters very upset because this is an important project to support production for people, especially during the dry season.

The conference recorded 13 reflections and recommendations from voters in the three communes of Lang Khe, Chau Khe, and Cam Lam (Con Cuong district). Photo: Thanh Quynh

Voter Lo Van Dung (Bai Gao village, Chau Khe commune) reported the slow compensation related to the Chi Khe hydropower project after implementing elevation 38. Accordingly, Bai Gao village has 15 households subject to relocation and land acquisition of over 30% to be compensated by the hydropower plant, most of these subjects are poor households and ethnic minorities. However, many years have passed since the issuance of this support policy until now, all of the above households have not received any support.

Also related to this hydropower project, voter Ngo Thanh Tai - Secretary of the Khe Choang village Party Cell, reflected on the state of water pollution during the hydropower storage process. Accordingly, for many years, the domestic water source serving 30 households in the village has often been turbid and polluted, causing great frustration among the people. This situation not only occurs in Khe Choang village but also affects many neighboring villages.

In addition, many voters reflected on issues related to: the serious degradation of the transportation system, especially inter-village and inter-commune roads; low allowances for village and commune officials; difficulties in finding outlets for tea, sugarcane, and cassava products of local farmers.

Mr. Tran Nhat Minh - Member of the Law Committee of the National Assembly, full-time National Assembly Delegate, representative of the provincial National Assembly Delegation, explained and clarified a number of voters' recommendations within his authority. Photo: Thanh Quynh

In his concluding remarks at the meeting with voters, Mr. Tran Nhat Minh - Member of the Law Committee of the National Assembly, full-time National Assembly Delegate acknowledged the voters' enthusiastic opinions, proposals and recommendations, related to the development of the locality in particular and the whole province in general.

At the conference, many comments from voters were explained and clarified by National Assembly deputies and representatives of departments, branches and local authorities. For opinions under the authority of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government, central ministries and branches, the provincial National Assembly Delegation will synthesize and fully convey them to the National Assembly, the Government and central and local authorities for consideration and settlement according to regulations./.