Landslide relocation project 'shelved' for 7 years

(Baonghean) - The project to urgently evacuate people from the natural disaster area, flash floods and landslides in Quan village, Lien Hop commune, Quy Hop district has been implemented since 2010. However, after 7 years, the project has only completed phase 1, which is leveling the ground. Because there is no electricity grid and water, 31 households in the resettlement area have not been able to move to a new safe place.

From Quy Hop town to Lien Hop commune is only about 15 km but the road is severely damaged, due to heavy trucks transporting raw materials day and night destroying it. This is also the most difficult area of ​​the mountainous district of Quy Hop. People's lives depend on small-scale agricultural production. Difficult traffic makes the lives of the people in the commune even more difficult.

The dilapidated houses of the people of Quan village, Lien Hop commune (Quy Hop) at the foot of the mountain. Photo: Ngo An

Following the Lien Hop commune cadres, we crossed many steep slopes to reach Quan village. This is one of the most difficult Thai ethnic villages in Quy Hop district. The road to the village is muddy and bumpy, making it extremely difficult for the people in the highlands to trade and sell. According to local cadres, the main reason for the people's "still poor" status is that they have to live with floods and landslides every year.

Mr. Vi Van Phong in Quan village sighed: “My house is on the edge of the river, every time the flood season comes, everyone is scared. I still remember 8 years ago, when the historic flash flood in September 2009 swept through, water flooded up to the roofs, households living on both sides of the river and stream struggled in the rain and flood to find shelter. After that, I heard that the State had an emergency policy to evacuate people from the flood area, so I was very happy. However, until now, we still have to stay in the old house with worries when there is heavy rain and strong winds.”

Ms. Vi Thi Xuan in Quan village shared: “I was very happy to know that my family was in the relocation area, but we have been waiting for years and still have not seen the relocation. Every time there is heavy rain, the river water floods the house. On the contrary, during the hot season, there is no water for daily use.”

Mr. Lo Van Dong - Chairman of Lien Hop Commune People's Committee added: The commune has mentioned the issue of delay in resettlement and landslides many times in council meetings, contacting voters, and has sent reports to authorities at all levels. The biggest wish of the locality is that the project will continue to be constructed in phase 2. After people have a new safe place to live, the commune will reclaim nearby land to grow rice to help people stabilize their lives.

Muddy road to the resettlement area of ​​Quan village. Photo: Ngo An

Mr. Truong Van Nam - Head of the Project Management Board of Quy Hop district said: The project to urgently relocate people in the disaster and landslide areas in the district has been implemented since 2010 with a total cost of 31 billion VND in 2 communes of Lien Hop and Chau Tien. The project is divided into 2 phases, in which phase 1 has invested over 17 billion VND; while phase 2, connecting the power grid and clean water system, has not yet been implemented. During the implementation process, due to the slow settlement of project documents, along with lack of capital, phase 2 cannot be implemented. Therefore, dozens of households in the affected areas still have to wait.

Currently, the resettlement area of ​​Quan village is just two empty lots full of grass and trees, used as grazing grounds for local people's cattle, without any electricity or running water. Faced with this situation, 31 Thai households in the resettlement area of ​​Quan village still have to live in shabby houses by the river, without electricity, without water, with unstable phone signal and at risk of being swept away at any time when the rain and flood come.

Ngo An