Voters in the 'village surrounded by three rivers' are worried that sand mining businesses will cause landslides.

(Baonghean.vn) - This was a suggestion from voters in Luu Son commune, Do Luong district, to provincial People's Council representatives during a voter consultation meeting on the morning of June 15th.

Scene from the voter outreach event. Photo: Mai Hoa

At the meeting with voters, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong reported on the socio-economic situation and national defense and security in the province during the first six months of 2017; and outlined the program and content of the 4th session of the 17th Provincial People's Council, term 2016-2021.

Following that, 21 voters raised concerns and made suggestions on various issues falling under the jurisdiction of provincial, district, and commune-level authorities.

Voter Tran Huu Vinh (Luu Son commune) raised concerns about why the initial sand mining license granted to Luu Cat Thanh enterprise was for 7.2 hectares, but after public consultation and disagreement, it was reduced to 4.6 hectares to circumvent the provincial People's Committee's regulations on obtaining public opinion before allowing enterprises to mine sand.

And now, within the previously reduced area of ​​Luu Cat Thanh enterprise, despite local disapproval, a license has been granted to Hung Dung enterprise. Mr. Tran Huu Vinh also added that Luu Son commune is currently bordered by rivers on three sides, with a soil structure consisting of about 10 meters of hard surface soil and sand underneath. If too many enterprises are granted licenses to exploit resources in the area, the risk of landslides is very high. He requested the province to investigate and clarify this issue.

Voter Nguyen Dang Tri, from Hamlet 11, Da Son Commune, suggested that the province should consider increasing the allowances for certain positions at the commune and hamlet levels. Photo: Mai Hoa

Voter Nguyen Tan Long from Hamlet 7, Da Son Commune, expressed concern that, under the same system, those receiving Certificates of Merit from various levels all receive a bonus of 1,250,000 VND, while those awarded the Glorious Soldier Medal or Decoration by the President of the Republic have not yet received a bonus. Furthermore, among those awarded the Medal or Decoration, some have received 500,000 VND in bonus money, but the majority have not yet received it.

While expressing agreement with the policy of building new rural areas, voter Chu Dinh Son from Hamlet 1, Da Son Commune, argued that the State has not made specific calculations regarding the resources needed for implementation and is instead imposing its policies.

For example, Hamlet 1 in Da Son commune has a total population of approximately 400 people, from young children to the elderly; the people's lives mainly depend on just 7 square meters of rice paddy per household; meanwhile, in building new rural areas, people contribute to everything from roads and canals to schools; on average, they have to contribute 1.5 million VND per person for road construction alone.

Currently, the village cultural center is dilapidated and does not meet the needs of the residents; we request that the province implement policies to support areas with difficult economic conditions.

Mr. Tran Van Luyen, from Hamlet 7, Da Son Commune, suggested that the State should invest in human resources and necessary equipment to strengthen food safety and hygiene control. Currently, at all levels, especially at the grassroots level, the inspection and testing of food safety and hygiene quality is mainly done based on visual observation.

It is necessary to address the shortcomings in ensuring the rights of health insurance participants, such as not limiting the number of treatment days after recovery and allowing them to be transferred to higher-level facilities when needed; only then will people be encouraged to actively participate in health insurance.

Many issues related to the responsibility of medical staff towards patients; concerns about school safety; the operation of oversized and overloaded vehicles; low salaries for grassroots officials; benefits for policy beneficiaries; the awareness and responsibility of grassroots officials in resolving and handling people's affairs; land management, etc., were also mentioned and reflected upon by voters.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Hoang Viet Duong, directly explains several issues within the province's jurisdiction. Photo: Mai Hoa

Concluding the voters' discussion, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Hoang Viet Duong, directly addressed many issues and received feedback to forward to relevant levels and sectors for handling. Regarding the voters' request for sand mining permits in Luu Son commune, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council affirmed that the Provincial People's Council will be responsible for requesting the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct an inspection and advise the Provincial People's Committee on how to handle the matter.

Regarding the voters' suggestions and feedback about the low salaries for some positions at the commune and village levels, Mr. Hoang Viet Duong shared that Nghe An is currently a disadvantaged locality, with provincial budget revenue reaching 11,000 billion VND, while expenditure is 22,000 billion VND; the central government has to provide a subsidy of 11,000 billion VND.

Given the limited budget, implementing policies to increase the benefits for a particular position requires careful research and consideration of available financial resources. Increasing the benefits for just one position by 50,000 VND would amount to hundreds of billions of VND for the entire province. However, the Provincial People's Council will continue to study the voters' opinions to develop policies in the future.

Responding to voters' concerns about ensuring benefits for policy beneficiaries, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council requested that Party committees, governments, the Fatherland Front, and mass organizations at the commune level pay special attention to and ensure the best possible benefits for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution and vulnerable groups in society.

Comrade Hoang Viet Duong also suggested that grassroots officials should be closer to the people and have a higher sense of responsibility in resolving emerging issues and legitimate aspirations of the people; ultimately, no one can replace the Party committees, government, Fatherland Front, mass organizations, and local people in resolving issues in the area.

Mai Hoa