Addressing difficulties and obstacles in the Ban Mong Reservoir Project.

On July 12th, in Thanh Hoa, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the "Ban Mong Reservoir Project, Phase 1, Nghe An Province".

Attending the conference were comrades: Le Duc Giang - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province; Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province and representatives from relevant departments and agencies.

Progress on phase 1 of the Ban Mong water reservoir project is still slow.

The Ban Mong Reservoir Project, Phase 1, in Nghe An province, received approval from the Prime Minister for the adjustment of the investment policy in Decision No. 1248/QD-TTg dated October 26, 2023; and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development approved the adjustment of the investment project in Decision No. 532/QD-BNN-XD dated February 7, 2024.

To date, regarding land clearance for the reservoir area, Quy Hop district has completed up to an elevation of +71.86m, Nghia Dan district has completed up to an elevation of +71.86m, and Quy Chau district has completed up to an elevation of +71.86m. The bridge on National Highway 48 over the reservoir's connecting canal is 98% complete.

Auxiliary dams 1, 2, and 3 have been completed. Auxiliary dam 2 has been finished, while auxiliary dams 1 and 3 still require the final joining of the main sections. The total investment for the compensation, resettlement, and land clearance component, and the component for pumping stations drawing water from the Hieu River, is VND 2,948.5 billion. By 2023, VND 1,878.6 billion had been allocated and disbursed.

However, the project adjustment process is still facing difficulties and obstacles. Specifically, the consulting work is encountering many challenges in surveying and investigating the current situation, calculating hydraulic and hydrological conditions to select a suitable construction option, especially the option for treating the slopes of the Chau Binh drainage canal. Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Project Management Board, and the consulting contractor are proposing technical solutions.

Project adjustments involve numerous procedures, requiring considerable time for comprehensive review. Furthermore, component adjustments go through multiple steps and levels of government agencies, following established processes and regulations.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Van De, Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, pledged to direct relevant departments, agencies, and localities to ensure sufficient land for irrigation is allocated for the project's implementation. He also committed to reviewing all project components, especially the plan for addressing landslides in the Chau Binh drainage canal, in order to finalize the revised project documentation.

Directing the revision of the detailed construction schedule of the project, promptly resolving difficulties and obstacles to ensure the project is completed on schedule. Reviewing the organizational structure of the Project Management Board; assigning specific tasks to each relevant organization and individual to carry out each part of the work.

Comrade Nguyen Van De also requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to pay attention to and help resolve difficulties and obstacles, and expedite procedures to accelerate the project's implementation progress.

For Thanh Hoa province, additional work items and funding have been allocated for the compensation, support, and resettlement component in Nhu Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province, with a total estimated budget of nearly 517 billion VND. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Hoa province has been assigned as the investor for this component.

However, during the implementation process, there are still some obstacles related to legal procedures for the appraisal and approval of project components. Thanh Hoa province also requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to take measures to resolve these issues so that there is a basis for planning and implementing subsequent tasks.

Resolutely remove difficulties and obstacles.

Concluding the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized: The Ban Mong Reservoir Project is a key national project. To complete the project on schedule before December 31, 2025, localities must be proactive and decisive in directing its implementation.

In particular, Thanh Hoa province is urgently adjusting and ensuring that sufficient land for irrigation is allocated according to the total needs of the project by July 2024.

Regarding the “Compensation and Resettlement Support Component Project in Nhu Xuan District under the Ban Mong Reservoir Project, Phase 1, Nghe An Province”, Thanh Hoa Province is requested to detail the resettlement area, assign the Construction Project Management Department to appraise and report to the Ministry for project approval. Based on the central government's allocated funds, the structure of the allocated budget may be adjusted, but the total amount will not change.

We propose that the People's Committee of Nghe An province direct and issue a plan outlining the project's implementation schedule to ensure water storage and commit to completing phase 1 of the project by the end of 2025. We also request decisive leadership, resource allocation, and timely resolution of difficulties in the project's implementation.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is committed to providing sufficient funding according to the progress and needs of the localities to ensure the project is implemented on schedule. The Irrigation Construction Investment Management Board 4, in coordination with Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, the design consultant, and the contractor, is preparing the site, the diversion plan, and the flood-resistant construction plan and schedule to ensure the diversion project proceeds as planned.

Regarding the progress and quality of project implementation, on June 24, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Decision No. 1896/QD-BNN-XD on the establishment of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Ban Mong Reservoir Project, Phase 1, Nghe An province.

The Steering Committee consists of 14 members, chaired by Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; and vice-chaired by Mr. Le Duc Giang, Vice-Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province, and Mr. Nguyen Van De, Vice-Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province.

The Head of the Steering Committee may use the seal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development when signing documents; the Deputy Head and members may use the seal of their respective units or localities when signing documents to carry out their tasks.