Voters in Tuong Duong are outraged by 'irresponsible hydropower project'.

Outrage over hydropower

On the afternoon of June 18th, National Assembly deputies Le Quang Huy - Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; and Nguyen Huu Cau - Director of the Nghe An Provincial Police, held a meeting with voters in Xa Luong commune (Tuong Duong district) following the 7th session of the National Assembly.

Members of Parliament at the meeting. Photo: Tien Hung

At the conference, all voters expressed their frustration with the hydroelectric power plants located in the area. Xa Luong currently has two hydroelectric power plants: Nam Non and Ban Ang.

According to voters, before the hydropower plant was built, many households had their assets surveyed and inventoried, but were only compensated for the affected land and not allowed to relocate. Meanwhile, the distance between these households and the hydropower plant is too close, affecting the safety of the residents.

During the construction process, the blasting caused residents to evacuate many times, damaging their homes. They petitioned repeatedly before receiving compensation, but even then, the compensation was inadequate.

Members of Parliament visited the homes of residents whose houses were swept away by floodwaters released from hydroelectric dams to assess the situation. Photo: Tien Hung

According to voters in Xa Luong commune, the hydropower plant's substation is less than 5 meters from people's houses, causing insecurity and threatening people's lives. Safety warning signs prohibit people from entering the hydropower plant area within 100 meters, but currently, people are living less than 20 meters from the dam, with the walls of their houses even right next to the transformer station...

Regarding the resolution of damages arising from the operation of the Nam Non hydropower plant, the flood discharge at the end of August 2018 washed away and eroded the houses of 14 families living along the hydropower plant area. Currently, the authorities have surveyed and compiled dossiers for submission to competent authorities for consideration, but nearly a year has passed without results, while the people still have no place to live, and the rainy season is approaching.

Colonel Nguyen Huu Cau visits the wife of Vi Van May, who died after the Nam Non hydropower plant released water without prior notice, a case recently reported by Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Tien Hung

'Xiangyang otter, where are you?'

(Baonghean.vn) - These were the cries of grief from the people of Xieng Huong (Tuong Duong district, Nghe An province) as they searched for the body of Vi Van May in the Nam Non River. In this riverside village, no one thought that a healthy man, nicknamed "the otter" for his swimming skills, would die so tragically.

Regarding the Ban Ang hydropower plant, voters believe that the construction of the embankment encroaching on residential areas did not conform to the original design and blueprints...

"If this situation continues, there's a risk that our entire village will have no land left to live on. The hydropower plant must take responsibility; no one else can be blamed. The fault lies with the hydropower plant...", voter Nguyen Huu Trung said angrily.

Representatives go directly to voters' homes.

Speaking at the conference, delegate Nguyen Huu Cau said that he deeply sympathized with the losses of life and property caused by hydropower projects, and promised to contribute his voice to the struggle for the people.

Regarding the flood at the end of August 2018 that swept away 14 houses, almost a year has passed but the issue remains unresolved, leaving residents without homes. According to Colonel Cau, regardless of the circumstances, the government is at fault, and he urged the government to work together to resolve the issue for the affected people.

Regarding the May 23rd incident where the Nam Non hydropower plant released floodwaters without warning, resulting in fatalities, the Provincial Police Director immediately instructed local police to investigate and handle the matter according to the law. He also promised voters that he would "see it through to the end, continuing the investigation to determine who is responsible."

"A human life is precious; no amount of money is ever enough to justify haggling over compensation. If you make a mistake, you must take responsibility," Representative Cau said.

The National Assembly delegates then visited the Nam Non hydropower plant, the landslide area, to directly inspect the site and understand the concerns and aspirations of the local people.