Nghe An: Market not yet completed but at risk of being 'closed'

Although it is aimed at becoming a business and trading center of Nam Thai commune (Nam Dan), due to lack of capital and the selection of an unsuitable location, the Nam Thai commune rural market is facing the risk of being "terminated" even though it is not yet completed.

According to our research, on August 19, 2013, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 3641/QD.UBND on allowing the preparation of technical and economic reports for construction works.rural marketNam Thai commune. The construction site is located in hamlet 8, Nam Thai commune, with an area of ​​about 3,000 m2.

This is a grade 3 market project, with the main hall area of ​​400 m2; a system of 400 m2 sales counters; a system of yard, fences, drainage ditches, fire prevention and fighting and other auxiliary works...

The total investment of this project is expected to be 4 billion VND, of which the investment capital is determined to be supported by the provincial budget according to Decision No. 56/2010/QD.UBND dated August 4, 2010 on the policy of supporting investment in building rural markets in Nghe An until 2020; at the same time, the district budget will support according to the mechanism with the commune budget and other legally mobilized sources.

Nam Thai commune rural market is built on an area of ​​about 4,000 m2, on the road leading to the commune center, near National Highway 46. Photo: Tien Dong

After being permitted by the Provincial People's Committee, the Nam Thai Commune People's Committee also prepared a Technical Economic Report, which was approved by the Nam Dan District People's Committee on September 25, 2013, by Decision No. 5204/QD-UBND. At this time, the Nam Thai Commune People's Committee did not have the function of managing the project as well as preparing the Technical Economic Report, so the preparation of the Technical Economic Report as well as project management had to be done by a third party. According to the approved report, the total investment was determined to be 3 billion 987 million VND.

On January 6, 2014, Nam Thai Commune People's Committee issued Decision No. 18/QD-UBND approving the results of the bidding. The designated contractor was Hoang Kim Construction Joint Stock Company (headquartered in Nhan Son Commune, Do Luong District), with a bid price of over 3.6 billion VND. On April 8, 2014, Nam Thai Commune People's Committee and Hoang Kim Construction Joint Stock Company signed construction contract No. 04/2014/HD-XD, the project is expected to be completed within 360 days from the date the contract is signed.

However, after a period of construction, this project had to stop due to lack of capital. Currently, according to our observations, the main market hall with 2 rows of kiosks in front has been built. However, the surrounding yard has not been built yet, it is full of rocks, trees and weeds. After more than 7 years, some locations have also been degraded and damaged.

In addition to the main hall, in front of the entrance, there are two rows of kiosks that have been built but not yet completed. Photo: Tien Dong

According to the records kept at the Nam Thai Commune People's Committee, the contractor has completed the work volume worth VND 1,169,648,000. In June 2014 and June 2015, the Nam Thai Commune People's Committee also paid the contractor VND 525 million and VND 400 million. Since then, the project has been unfinished and the Nam Thai Commune People's Committee has not paid any additional amount of the total value of the work volume achieved.

According to Mr. Van Ba ​​Hoa - Chairman of Nam Thai Commune People's Committee, this project was built a long time ago, but due to lack of capital, the project cannot be continued. Mr. Hoa also determined that even if there was capital, it would be difficult to continue construction because the market location is not effective because for a long time around Nam Thai Commune, there have been Rao Gang Market and Nam Nghia Market, and there are several large markets in Nam Dan Town. Mr. Hoa said that the commune has invited the construction unit to work many times to settle the volume of work done, but the contractor has not come. Currently, Nam Thai Commune also wants to change the purpose of use of this land, however, this must be approved by the Provincial People's Committee.

We directly contacted Mr. Hoang Van Giai - Director of Hoang Kim Construction Joint Stock Company, the representative of Party B (construction contractor), at the phone number listed on the construction contract signed with the People's Committee of Nam Thai commune but could not be contacted.

After more than 7 years, the Nam Thai rural market project has yet to be completed and is at risk of being "terminated". Photo: Tien Dong

Mr. Le Van Sy - Head of District Economic and Infrastructure DepartmentNam Dansaid: The Nam Thai rural market project is part of the commercial land use planning. Currently, if you want to convert it to another purpose, you need permission from the competent authorities.

Regarding the issue of payment and settlement for this unfinished project, Mr. Nguyen Ho Ba - Head of Finance and Planning Department of Nam Dan district said: Currently, the district has completed the final payment procedures for this project, cutting off the debt with the construction unit.