Resettlement area construction is slow, many relocated households in Hai Thinh hamlet, Nghi Thiet commune are waiting in difficulty

House is dilapidated, life is difficult

Mr. Le Van Dien's family is one of nine households in Hai Thinh hamlet, Nghi Thiet commune that must be relocated to make way for the Nghi Thiet Cement Grinding Station and seaport. This policy was introduced in 2016. The Nghi Loc District Land Clearance Board and Nghi Thiet commune conducted land measurements, counted the assets of nine households and developed a resettlement plan.

However, 7 years have passed, 9 households in Hai Thinh hamlet, Nghi Thiet commune still have to live right next to the Cement Grinding Station and the Nghi Thiet seaport construction site with dust and noise. Life is more difficult when many houses are degraded but must remain in their current state, not being repaired or upgraded.

Most households have to cover their houses with tarpaulins and seal their windows to keep out dust. Some houses are cracked and leaky, and during storms they have to stay with others for fear of collapsing.

Most typically, many years ago, Mrs. Pham Thi Hong's family had their entire garden and a corner of their house buried in rocks and soil. Mrs. Hong had to move all her belongings to a relative's house.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chung - Head of Hai Thinh Hamlet, Nghi Thiet Commune, reflected: "The affected households have suffered for many years. Their houses are damaged, leak when it rains, and life is difficult. Therefore, we respectfully request that all levels quickly complete the resettlement area to relocate the affected households to a safe place and stabilize their lives."

Resettlement area construction slow

The urgent relocation is not only the wish of the 9 affected households but also the wish of Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company when this unit wants to receive the site to complete the projects according to the design.

However, the key issue is that the resettlement area for 9 households in Nghi Thiet commune is delayed. According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Diep - Vice Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee, the delay in construction of resettlement land has many reasons, including difficulties in compensation and site clearance costs, especially in the resettlement land area where compensation and site clearance have not been completed. Currently, there are 5 households with agricultural land who do not agree with the compensation and site clearance plan to build the resettlement area.

That is why the land for the resettlement area has been leveled to half of its area and has been "shelved" for a long time. Mr. Nguyen Ba Diep - Vice Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee added that the district and commune are continuing to mobilize 5 households to agree on the compensation plan for site clearance to build the resettlement area. In this area, 1.5 hectares wide, in addition to the land plots for compensation and relocation for 9 households in Hai Thinh hamlet in the area affected by the construction of Nghi Thiet Cement Grinding Station and seaport, there are also many land plots that are being auctioned to serve the needs of people in the area.

Regarding the construction of a resettlement area and the relocation of 9 households out of the affected area, in the dialogue on June 25 between the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone and the people of Hai Thinh hamlet, Nghi Thiet commune (Nghi Loc) to resolve the people's petitions during the construction and operation of the Vissai Cement Grinding Station and Seaport project in Nghi Thiet commune; it was agreed to assign the Nghi Loc District People's Committee to direct the Nghi Thiet Commune People's Committee and related units to urgently complete the site clearance and construction of the resettlement area before November 30, 2023.

Will it be completed by that time? In response to this question, Mr. Nguyen Ba Diep - Vice Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee said: The district will make every effort to achieve the goal within the set deadline. When the site clearance is completed, the construction unit will be directed to proceed quickly and coordinate with households that must be relocated from the affected area, and coordinate to support the Site Clearance Council to promptly complete the inventory and agree on the site clearance plan.