Anh Son District: A forgotten project?

(Baonghean.vn) - Started six years ago, the project to build a settled village for ethnic minorities in Thung Chanh, Tho Son commune, Anh Son district, remains stalled.

Officially commencing construction in 2009 according to the Provincial People's Committee's approval decision (Decision No. 920/UBND-NN, March 2009). Since then, only the gravel road and two spillways across Khe Trang have been hastily constructed, leaving this resettlement project in a state of disarray. Besides the spillways and the section of road almost completely washed away by floods, no other project components have been completed.

The road leading to Thung Chanh - Tho Son commune was severely damaged after construction began in 2011.

The spillway across Khe Trang stream now only has a few concrete slabs remaining.

For many years, the ethnic minority households eligible to benefit from the project have repeatedly petitioned the District People's Committee and People's Council, but the project has remained completely unimplemented. Our survey on the morning of July 9, 2014, six years after the project came into effect, revealed only a few concrete slabs of the spillway on Khe Trang stream remaining. The trust of the Thai ethnic minority households, who were supposed to be beneficiaries, has eroded. Twelve households are currently clinging to their homes, building temporary shelters to reclaim land in Thung Chanh, using stones from the mountain to build temporary embankments across the stream for transportation, production, and daily life.

Mr. Loc Van Hanh's family, one of the first households to settle and cultivate the land here, shook their heads in frustration when we mentioned the resettlement project: "You see, the road to Thung Chanh is still winding and difficult. Especially during the rainy season, we feel isolated. We have petitioned many times, but the project has not been implemented. A few months ago, a delegation from the district and province came to inspect, but we don't know when it will be done." Mr. La Van Hoat, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tho Son commune, added: "At every meeting with representatives of the People's Council at all levels, the people and voters in the villages needing resettlement around Thung Chanh have also raised concerns about the project's delays. We have also proposed it to the district many times, but there has been no concrete solution yet…"

Mr. Loc Van Hanh (pointing), one of the households that have been clinging to Thung Chanh for many years, is waiting for the project to be implemented.

The current situation stems from the fact that before implementing the project, the Anh Son District People's Committee did not thoroughly survey the terrain and land resources, leading to difficulties in resolving compensation issues for the 12 households who had cleared land in Thung Chanh 20 years ago. Since the 1980s, due to a shortage of arable land, many Thai ethnic minority families in Khe Trang Ha and Khe Trang Thuong villages cleared land in Thung Chanh to cultivate rice and develop livestock farming. For decades, some families have been connected to this valley for three generations. Therefore, before starting the project, the investor and relevant parties did not conduct surveys or calculate compensation options, nor did they effectively carry out public relations work, resulting in the failure to reclaim land for the resettlement project. This difficulty caused the Anh Son District People's Committee to "forget" about this unfinished project.

The roads and spillway within Thung Chanh village are unfinished, creating difficulties.

The People's Committee of Anh Son district stated that the project would be completed by the end of 2015 after adjustments. But with the site in such a chaotic state, will it be completed on schedule?

Ms. Vo Thi Hong Lam, Chairwoman of the Anh Son District People's Committee, stated: “Through inspection and evaluation of the project, we have identified shortcomings in the survey process. Project management has also been inadequate. The District People's Committee has rectified the project management board and proposed that the Central and Provincial governments allocate funds to continue implementation. We are determined to complete the important components of the project by the end of 2015…”

The investor has made such a statement, but given the stages outlined in the project, will the progress be achieved? Once again, the people and voters in the Thung Chanh area in particular, and in Tho Son commune in general, are waiting and hoping…

Nguyen Son