Ky Son: Proposal to stop surveying hydropower projects in the area

The inspection delegation led by comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee, Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council, together with leaders of Ky Son district, conducted a field inspection. Photo: Mai Hoa

According to a report from Ky Son district, there are currently 3 hydropower projects in operation; 3 projects under construction; 3 projects under survey and 1 project applying for inclusion in the planning.

Affirming the benefits of hydropower, which is to add electricity to the national grid and contribute to the State budget, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son district Nguyen Thanh Hoang also pointed out many shortcomings, limitations and consequences of hydropower.

Citing the reality of 3 projects that have generated electricity on the Nam Mo River in Ta Ca Commune, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hoang said that since the dam was built to produce electricity, the river has dried up in the summer and has no water; in the rainy season, there is a high risk of landslides. Especially when the hydropower project discharges water from the bottom, the muddy water flows for about 30km, which no aquatic species can survive.

On average, projects discharge water 2-3 times a year, and when they do, investors often do not notify in time, affecting people's lives and even threatening the lives and property of people living downstream.

Comrade Le Hong Vinh chaired the working session of the monitoring delegation with the People's Committee of Ky Son district. Photo: Mai Hoa

In addition to the above issues, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son District Nguyen Thanh Hoang also reflected that the rice growing area in the whole district is small, only over 300 hectares, and the implementation of hydropower projects is further narrowing this area. For example, the Ca Nan Hydropower Project is being implemented, causing the disappearance of more than 9 hectares of rice growing area, affecting the livelihoods of the people.

On the other hand, there are some projects where the number of households to be relocated is large, while the flat land area for resettlement is very difficult. For example, the My Ly Hydropower Project has 400 households to be relocated. Some suspended hydropower projects also affect the rights of the people when policies such as: 135, 160, and school consolidation have not been implemented in the past 3 or 4 years.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son district, Nguyen Thanh Hoang, suggested that any project that requires the relocation of many households and does not improve people's livelihoods should not be continued.

Chairman of the District People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Hoang proposed to stop hydropower projects that affect people's livelihoods. Photo: Mai Hoa

Based on the survey of the actual operations of the two hydropower projects Nam Can 2 and Nam Mo, and listening to the members of the monitoring delegation raise issues related to the management, inspection and supervision of hydropower projects, at the meeting, Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council Le Hong Vinh pointed out the limitations of the operations of hydropower projects.

These include issues related to compliance with approved environmental impact reports; reforestation of lost forest areas during project implementation; implementation of commitments by investors to local authorities and people; land management, use, handover, lease and implementation of financial obligations on land, etc.

From the above shortcomings, Head of the monitoring delegation Le Hong Vinh said that the district and commune authorities have not fulfilled their responsibilities in state management as well as inspection, supervision and recommendations for handling violations and shortcomings in the operation of hydropower projects in the area.

The head of the monitoring team emphasized that there are sanctions for people using electric shock or mines to exploit aquatic resources, but the hydropower projects that dumped water on the riverbed, destroying aquatic resources along a 30-km stretch, have not been held accountable.

Survey team at Nam Can 2 Hydropower Project. Photo: Mai Hoa

On the investor side, they have not fulfilled their commitments and fully implemented the procedures in project operation, especially in terms of environmental protection, and have not paid attention to implementing social security work well... This is also the responsibility of provincial departments and branches in surveying, planning, and coordinating implementation...

Based on the issues raised, Head of the monitoring delegation Le Hong Vinh also affirmed that the delegation will collect and research to propose and provide solutions to more effectively manage the planning and implementation of hydropower projects in the province.