Environmental improvement and restoration project at Eo Gio (Hung Nguyen): Responding to local development and national key traffic projects

Responding to local development

Nghe An is the largest province in the country, with a population of over 3.4 million people. Currently, the Party Committee and the people of the province are determined to build Nghe An into a fairly prosperous province in the Northern region, a center of finance, trade, tourism, education - training, science and technology, health care, culture, sports, and high-tech industry in the North Central region.

To realize that goal, the province is focusing on attracting investment and developing infrastructure in all areas, including the VSIP Nghe An Industrial, Urban and Service Park project. Currently, VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park has been put into use and created many job needs, contributing to economic growth for Nghe An province, creating conditions for service industries and professions to develop in the province in general and the people of Hung Nguyen district, including the people of Hung Tay commune in particular.

A corner of VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park.

Previously, to serve the process of building infrastructure for this Industrial Park, VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company was permitted by the People's Committee of Nghe An province to register for land exploitation and leveling in Eo Gio area, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district (including 5 areas 1A, 1B, 1D, 1C, 1E) in Official Dispatch No. 275/UBND-NN dated January 14, 2017, with a deadline until the end of December 2019.

After VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company stopped exploiting fill materials in areas 1A, 1B and 1D of Eo Gio mine, the current terrain surface of this area is uneven and at risk of landslides; these areas have expired and have been transferred to the stage of environmental improvement and restoration according to regulations. Nghe An Provincial People's Committee and Nghe An Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued Document No. 5582/STNMT-KS dated October 29, 2020 requesting VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company to find solutions and implement environmental restoration work. VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company is also taking measures to improve and restore the environment according to regulations.

Serving national key projects

While VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company is implementing measures to improve and restore the environment in Eo Gio area, the relevant agencies are conducting surveys and locating construction material mines to serve the national key project of the North-South expressway passing through Nghe An. Through field surveys, in areas 1A, 1B and 1D in Eo Gio, there are still quite large remaining reserves of soil and rock that can be used as common construction materials to serve the North-South expressway project.

Map of the area where environmental restoration is being carried out.

In the spirit of the Government's direction in Resolution 60/NQ-CP dated June 16, 2021 on the application of a special mechanism in licensing the exploitation of minerals for common construction materials to supply for the investment project to build a number of North-South expressways in the East, phase 2017 - 2020 (already started); of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Official Dispatch No. 1488/BTNMT-ĐCKS dated March 29, 2019; of the Provincial People's Committee in Official Dispatch No. 2109/UBND-NN dated April 3, 2019,... dated July 7, 2021, Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company, the leading unit of the Joint Venture of contractors implementing the North-South Expressway component project, Dien Chau - Bai Vot section, has sent an official dispatch requesting the People's Committee of Nghe An province and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Nghe An to allow Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company to coordinate with VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company to carry out environmental restoration and material recovery for the construction of the North-South Expressway project.

Official dispatch of Hoa Hiep Company Limited sent to the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on coordinating with VSIP Nghe An Company Limited to carry out environmental restoration and material recovery for the construction of the North-South Expressway project.

On that basis, on November 8, 2021, the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone issued Decision 285/QD-KKT on approving the plan for environmental remediation, restoration and recovery of soil materials for leveling areas 1A, 1B, 1D at Eo Gio mine (Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district) invested by VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company, in coordination with the implementing unit, Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company. According to the Decision, the total area of ​​environmental remediation and restoration is 37.91 hectares, including solutions for environmental remediation and restoration of the mine bottom area, the surface of the mining pit, and the installation of danger warning signs around the mining pit. Remediation and restoration of the industrial and auxiliary yard area; internal mine traffic route to National Highway 46B.

Official dispatch of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board issued Decision 285/QD-KKT on approving the plan for environmental improvement, restoration and recovery of soil materials for filling areas 1A, 1B, 1D at Eo Gio mine.

The plan for environmental remediation and recovery of soil and rock for landfill at Eo Gio is a two-way combination: Environmental remediation and recovery of soil and rock for landfill; Transporting the excavated organic soil from the highway construction site back to the remediation area to plant trees to restore the environment.

The Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone also requested VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company to inspect and supervise Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company to properly and fully implement the contents of the environmental improvement and restoration plan and recover the landfill materials. During the environmental recovery and restoration process, Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company must ensure safety, avoid landslides, and create an environmentally friendly landscape in accordance with the approved construction design and plan.

Area for environmental improvement and restoration project implementation.

The North-South Expressway Construction Project in the Eastern Region, Phase 2017-2020 (Phase 1), has a total length of 652.86 km, divided into 11 sub-projects. This is a national key transport project. The project through Nghe An province is about 87.84 km long, divided into 2 sub-projects. The Nghi Son - Dien Chau sub-project (50 km long) started construction on July 2, 2021, and is scheduled to be completed in July 2023.

The Dien Chau - Bai Vot sub-project (49.3 km long), started on May 22, 2021, scheduled to be completed in May 2024, is constructed by the consortium of Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company - CIENCO4 Group Joint Stock Company - Nui Hong Investment Limited Liability Company - Truong Son Construction Corporation - VINA2 Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company.

Construction of the North-South Expressway project, Dien Chau-Bai Vot section. Photo courtesy

Not related to the Eternal Ecological Cemetery project

During the implementation of the Eo Gio environmental improvement and restoration project, some people said that this project overlapped and was related to the Vinh Hang Ecological Park Cemetery project which was also being implemented in Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district and sent a petition to the authorities.

Carrying out the tasks assigned by the Provincial People's Committee in Official Dispatch No. 5016/UBND-CN dated July 6, 2022 on checking the content and responding to the petition of Mr. Ta Van Nam, Dai Hue hamlet, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province; after checking and investigating, the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone issued Official Dispatch No. 906/KKT-NMT, responding as follows:

1. Regarding the content: “The land exploitation project overlaps the road to the crematorium of the cemetery in Phuc Dien hamlet. Currently, Hop Luc Company's equipment and materials are still located in the area where Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company plans to exploit the land. Thus, the project overlapping the project is completely wrong”:

The environmental improvement and restoration project in areas 1A, 1B, 1D in Eo Gio, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province, implemented by VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company and Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company in accordance with the law after the end of exploitation, is completely independent, separate and unrelated to the Vinh Hang Ecological Cemetery Park project invested by Phuc Lac Vien - Hoan Vu Hoan Than Nghe An Limited Liability Company. These two projects are adjacent to each other and share the same access road to the project. This was affirmed by the leaders of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board and the leaders of the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district at the Conference on June 5, 2022, chaired by the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district, in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Department of Transport; Southeast Economic Zone Management Board; authorities at all levels of the People's Committee of Hung Tay commune; VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company and Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company together with all households and individuals of Dai Hue hamlet, Hung Tay commune organized the announcement of the content and plan for environmental improvement and restoration in Eo Gio area, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district according to Decision No. 285/QD-KKT dated November 8, 2021 of the Management Board of Dong Nam Economic Zone at Dai Hue hamlet Cultural House.

Official dispatch of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board responding to the petition of Mr. Ta Van Nam, Dai Hue hamlet, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district.

2. Regarding the content of renovating the access road and creating environmental landscape and trees: In the Official Dispatches: No. 44/CV-HH dated July 7, 2021 of Hoa Hiep Company Limited on the proposal to implement the environmental remediation and mineral recovery project for the construction of the North-South Expressway; No. 3979/STNMT-KS dated July 15, 2021 of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on implementing environmental remediation and restoration in areas 1A, 1B and 1D Eo Gio, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district; Decision No. 285/QD-KKT dated November 8, 2021 of the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone on approving the environmental remediation and recovery plan and recovering soil materials for leveling areas 1A, 1B, 1D in Eo Gio, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province, there are 2 contents mentioned:

- VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company and Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company are responsible for working with Phuc Lac Vien Limited Liability Company - Hoan Vu Incarnation Station to share the road and coordinate in maintaining, repairing and renovating the road;

- During the process of environmental improvement and restoration, it is necessary to create an environmental landscape to ensure the goals of the Vinh Hang Ecological Park project.

Although the two projects mentioned above are independent and unrelated, they share the same road, so they must coordinate to maintain, repair, and renovate the shared road section. Furthermore, because they are adjacent to Vinh Hang Ecological Park, it is completely appropriate to renovate and restore the environment to create a suitable landscape around Vinh Hang Ecological Park.

3. The Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone is the agency assigned by the Provincial People's Committee to appraise and approve the plan for environmental remediation and recovery of land materials for leveling areas 1A, 1B, 1D at Eo Gio, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province. Therefore, the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone once again affirms: "The location of the land for environmental remediation and restoration according to Decision No. 285/QD-KKT dated November 8, 2021 of the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone is outside the boundary and is not related to the Vinh Hang Ecological Cemetery Park project" is completely correct.

- Regarding land management and use after completing environmental restoration work:

After completing the environmental improvement and restoration work, it will be handed over to the People's Committee of Hung Tay commune for management according to the provisions of Article 68 of the 2013 Land Law (Notice No. 276/TB-UBND dated June 7, 2022 of the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district)...

Project progress is being affected

Talking to reporters, Mr. Pham Dinh Hanh - Director of Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company said: In order to meet the demand for raw materials to implement the construction progress of the national key project on schedule, our company has sent an official dispatch and received approval from the People's Committee of Nghe An province to coordinate with VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company to carry out environmental restoration and material recovery in Eo Gio area, to construct the North-South Expressway project - Dien Chau - Bai Vot section. "The purpose of the construction is to level the ground, cut the layers, bring it to a safe state, prevent landslides on the mine banks; Recover and relocate excess materials during the renovation process to use as filling materials for the North-South Expressway project", Mr. Hanh said and informed that after completing the site renovation, the company will cover the ground with humus and plant trees, creating an environmental landscape for the area.

Mr. Pham Dinh Hanh also added: Although the project has been implemented in accordance with the correct procedures and regulations, due to some people's obstruction, the Company has not been able to implement it. "The fact that some people have prevented the company from implementing the project has caused a shortage of common construction materials to serve the North-South Expressway project, thereby affecting the construction progress, slowing down the progress of the project," Mr. Hanh said and hoped that people would understand the nature of the environmental improvement and restoration project in the Eo Gio area, which is not related to the Vinh Hang Ecological Cemetery Park project. Therefore, people need to agree and create conditions for the company to implement the project, thereby helping the company have enough construction materials, speeding up the progress of the North-South Expressway project - Dien Chau - Bai Vot section. The company is committed to carrying out construction to ensure absolute safety, reclaiming soil and rock for leveling only to serve the North-South Expressway project.

The road to the environmental improvement project area in Eo Gio was blocked by some extremists who built tents and dug up the road to prevent construction equipment from entering.

Mr. Hoang Anh Tien - Vice Chairman of Hung Nguyen District People's Committee affirmed that the implementation of environmental renovation and restoration in areas 1A, 1B, 1D in Eo Gio, Hung Tay commune is carried out in accordance with the provisions of law. "The location of the land for environmental renovation and restoration according to Decision No. 285 dated November 8, 2021 of the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone is outside the boundary and is not related to the Vinh Hang Ecological Cemetery Park project in Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district", Mr. Tien said and further affirmed that, in the approved plan, no renovation will be carried out for areas that have not been exploited for land, have trees, and areas with graves. After completing the environmental renovation and restoration work, the entire area will be handed over to Hung Tay Commune People's Committee for management and use. At the same time, invite some local people, VSIP Nghe An Limited Liability Company, Hoa Hiep Limited Liability Company, Commune People's Committee, District People's Committee, and Southeast Economic Zone Management Board to set up field markers to determine the location and scope of environmental improvement and restoration.

Announcement of the conclusion of the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district at the Conference to announce the content and plan for environmental restoration in areas 1A, 1B, 1D at Eo Gio, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district.

On the other hand, to ensure environmental factors, Hung Nguyen District People's Committee has also worked and directed the investor and construction unit to implement environmental protection measures such as placing construction warning signs and danger signs according to regulations; transporting soil and rock with the correct tonnage, vehicles with tarpaulins to prevent soil from falling; reducing speed when passing through residential areas to 30km/h to minimize noise and dust... In addition, the route through residential areas is also regularly swept and watered by sanitation workers.