Speed ​​up the resolution of existing problems and difficulties in the Ban Ve hydropower project

On the morning of February 22, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting with the investor of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant to resolve existing problems and difficulties in compensation, support and resettlement, and issues arising after the 2018 flood. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Huynh Thanh Dien chaired the meeting. Photo: Nhat Lan

Problems and obstacles

The existing problems in compensation, support and resettlement of Ban Ve hydropower project are concentrated in Tuong Duong and Thanh Chuong districts.

On November 28, 2018, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district submitted a document to the Provincial People's Committee, Power Generation Corporation 1 and Hydropower Project Management Board 2 requesting financial support for people affected by the Ban Ve Hydropower Project of nearly 160 billion VND.

During the 2019 Lunar New Year, in Tuong Duong district, many households still had to live in temporary houses due to the hydroelectric dam's flood discharge in 2018. Photo: Nhat Lan

The list of proposed support includes: Repairing resettlement houses and degraded public works built by the investor with a budget of more than 2.5 billion VND; Supporting leveling houses for 3 disadvantaged villages in the Ban Ve hydropower reservoir area with a budget of more than 1.9 billion VND; Investing in additional resettlement areas in the Xop Vi cluster to relocate the remaining 59 households in the Xop Chao, Khe Pang and Pung Meo villages, with a budget of about 11 billion VND.

Support for the construction of a new resettlement area in Khe O, Yen Na commune with a cost of about 5 billion VND; Support for the construction of Yen Na secondary school with a cost of about 8.5 billion VND; Support for damage caused by the flood discharge on August 30-31, 2018 with about 22 billion VND (of which, support of 10 billion VND to build infrastructure for 31 households in Luong Minh commune to have new accommodation; 10 billion VND to repair 4 flooded and damaged locations on route 543B; 2 billion VND to repair 2 damaged suspension bridges).

Representatives of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district are concerned about the issue of land compensation on the flooded area that has not been resolved, leading to the rights of resettled people being affected. Photo: Nhat Lan

In addition, compensation and support for land above the flood level with about more than 107 billion VND, because the entire land area above the flood level of the Ban Ve Hydropower Project according to the temporary regulations of the project does not implement the compensation and site clearance plan. Meanwhile, people in the reservoir area must all be relocated to resettlement areas in Thanh Chuong and Tuong Duong districts, cannot produce on this area but must return it to the State for management and use for other purposes, which is 4,298.11 hectares (including state-allocated forestry land, land with land use right certificates issued to people according to Decree 163, rural residential land, land for growing annual crops, land for growing perennial crops, production forest land, rice land, aquaculture land).

On November 20, 2018, Thanh Chuong district also submitted a proposal to invest in essential projects in the two resettlement communes of Ban Ve hydropower plant, including three production roads, a rural market, a commune-level stadium, a martyrs' memorial and the Nong village cultural house of the two resettlement communes of Ngoc Lam and Thanh Son. The preliminary estimate of the total cost of implementing these project items is about 19 billion VND. In addition, the work of measuring and granting land use right certificates to the people is completed.

Regarding the problems and difficulties in the compensation, support and resettlement of the Ban Ve Hydropower Project, on October 18, 2018, the Provincial People's Committee issued an official dispatch confirming that the settlement was still slow, leading to voters' reflections and press reports, causing public outrage; requesting to focus on resolving the issue completely (completion time from the fourth quarter of 2018 to the end of the first quarter of 2019).

Still having trouble?

In order to completely resolve the existing problems and difficulties in the compensation, support and resettlement of the Ban Ve Hydropower Project, on December 7, 2018, the Provincial People's Committee sent a document to the Prime Minister. On January 30, 2019, Vietnam Electricity Group also sent a document to the Government Office.

Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, Mr. Hoang Van Tam, requested that the investor must truly accompany Nghe An province to completely resolve the existing problems and obstacles in compensation, support and resettlement of the Ban Ve Hydropower Project. Photo: Nhat Lan

Specifically, for the resettlement communes in Thanh Chuong district, Vietnam Electricity Group agreed to support the investment costs for the construction of the Nong Village Cultural House using the project's capital. As for the investment in the construction of the stadium, rural market, and martyrs' memorial, the locality is requested to consider using the new rural capital or other sources for investment.

With the proposals in Tuong Duong district, the financial support to supplement infrastructure items of the resettlement area of ​​Xop Vi, Xop Chao (Luong Minh); to build a new resettlement area of ​​Khe O (Yen Na); to repair houses and public works built by the investor that have been damaged and degraded, Vietnam Electricity Group is proposing to the Prime Minister to allow the investor to provide support.

Regarding the impacts of flood discharge in 2018, the investor informed that it has supported the locality with 6.3 billion VND, and is currently planning to support the relocation of related households with an amount of 5 billion VND. Regarding compensation for land on the flooded area, Vietnam Electricity Group proposed that the Government not implement...

At the meeting, representatives of Tuong Duong and Thanh Chuong districts and leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade gave their opinions on how to resolve the above problems and shortcomings. In particular, they requested the province and the investor of the Ban Ve Hydropower Project to pay attention and send a written request to the Vietnam Electricity Group to consider using the project's investment capital, supporting investment costs for the construction of rural market projects, stadiums, and martyrs' memorials for Thanh Son and Ngoc Lam communes; and investing in the construction of resettlement areas in Tuong Duong.

In addition, the investor is requested to promptly complete the construction of 3 production routes, complete the survey work, issue land use right certificates; hand over the site of the camp serving the construction of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, and carry out compensation for the difference in departure and arrival locations...

Mr. Nguyen Nam Thang - Deputy General Director of Power Generation Corporation 1 spoke at the meeting. Photo: Nhat Lan

Deputy General Director of Power Generation Company 1 Nguyen Nam Thang affirmed that the investor will coordinate to soon complete the contents under its authority, or have been approved by Vietnam Electricity Group for implementation. In addition, it is requested that the Provincial People's Committee continue to send documents to Vietnam Electricity Group to resolve the contents that have not yet reached consensus...

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Huynh Thanh Dien requested that by the end of the second quarter of 2019, the agreed contents must be completely completed. That is, the completion of the measurement work, granting of land use right certificates, construction of Nong village cultural house, 3 production routes in Ngoc Lam and Thanh Son communes; handing over the site of the camp serving the construction of Ban Ve hydropower plant, implementing compensation at the departure and arrival locations and supporting the movement of people...

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Huynh Thanh Dien concluded the meeting. Photo: Nhat Lan

Regarding compensation and support for land on flood plains, the Provincial People's Committee will direct relevant agencies to inspect and advise on solutions to ensure the rights of resettled people. At the same time, continue to send documents to Vietnam Electricity Group to gain consensus in implementing financial support for investment in the construction of some essential works in the two resettlement communes of Ngoc Lam and Thanh Son of Thanh Chuong district, along with resettlement areas in Tuong Duong district.