Ky Son voters reflect that hydroelectric power plants create 'dead rivers'

On the morning of June 18, National Assembly deputies Le Quang Huy - Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; Nguyen Huu Cau - Director of Nghe An Provincial Police had a meeting with voters after the 7th session in Na Ngoi commune (Ky Son district).

Conference scene. Photo: Tien Hung

Opening the conference, delegate Le Quang Huy briefly reported the results of the 7th session.

At the conference, voters of Na Ngoi commune requested attention to supplementing production land. Voters said that currently, there are many protective forests, while production land is little. "The population is increasing, living mainly on the mountains and forests, but now most of them are protective forests and touching them is a violation. Therefore, there is no livelihood, no farming", said voter Vi Van Din.

The voter meeting took place in Na Ngoi commune. Photo: Tien Hung

In addition, voters suggested paying attention to connecting 5 villages in the commune to the grid, paying attention to creating jobs for ethnic minority children, opening a rural market in Na Ngoi, researching and considering allowing Mong people to celebrate December 30 as the traditional New Year of the nation....

In particular, voters said that there are currently 2 hydroelectric plants in the commune. Since the hydroelectric plants were built, the locality has also seen dead and dried up rivers. Therefore, people do not have water for agricultural production... After voters' feedback, representatives of departments, branches and localities directly responded in the hall.

Delegate Nguyen Huu Cau speaks at the meeting with voters. Photo: Tien Hung

Speaking at the conference, delegate Nguyen Huu Cau said, about vRegarding the issue of lack of land for ethnic minorities, many localities have reported this issue, and delegates have forwarded it to the National Assembly and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. "I myself questioned the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development about this issue to allocate forest land for people to produce. After that, Ky Son was allowed to allocate 30 hectares of forest land for people to produce, but it is currently stuck in the law so we have to wait a while longer," said Colonel Cau.

Nam Mo Hydropower Plant, located about 3km from Muong Xen town, Ky Son district. Photo courtesy of Nhat Lan.

Regarding the issue of hydropower, delegate Nguyen Huu Cau said that he has long seen the negative aspects of hydropower. Regarding the reflection of Na Ngoi voters, Colonel Cau suggested that Ky Son district should check the construction work as well as the situation of the dried-up rivers affecting people's cultivation or not in order to have solutions to overcome it.