Nghe An: District People's Committee Chairman is authorized to decide on investment projects under 15 billion VND of National Target Program capital

Fish farming on Hua Na Hydropower Reservoir contributes to poverty reduction in Que Phong district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Accordingly, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province decided to authorize the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to decide on investment in group C projects within the scope of a district, city or town under their management (except for projects invested by provincial agencies) using National Target Program capital under 15 billion VND.

The Decision takes effect from the date of signing and the authorization period is until December 31, 2025, or until there is a new document regulating the content of authorization from the competent authority.

The Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee requested: The selection of project portfolio, project scale and integration of capital sources (if any) must ensure the use of capital in a concentrated, economical, effective and in accordance with the instructions for implementing the National Target Program of the superior level and relevant legal regulations, not allowing unfinished projects, outstanding debts in public investment and promoting the role of the community as the subject participating in the process of planning, organizing the implementation and monitoring of the National Target Programs.

For projects with grade II or higher construction, before approving the project, there must be written opinions from the provincial construction authority.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of districts, cities and towns is responsible for the investment decision-maker: Organizing the appraisal and approval of investment projects; appraising and approving contractor selection plans; managing construction quality; appraising and approving the final settlement of investment capital for completed projects in accordance with current legal regulations; being responsible before the law and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for the authorized contents.

Within 7 days from the date of issuance of relevant decisions, the authorized person must send the decisions to the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Planning and Investment and the program management agency.

Nam Dan district leaders inspect the construction progress of some projects in the area. Photo: Archive

In the period of 2021 - 2025, the total central budget capital plan allocated to Nghe An province to implement 3 National Target Programs including: New rural construction, socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas and sustainable poverty reduction is more than 4,931 billion VND.

Nghe An has a large number of projects and beneficiaries: The National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas implemented 9 component projects, with 708 detailed projects; The National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction implemented 2 component projects, with 48 detailed projects; The National Target Program for New Rural Development implemented in 411 communes, with 988 detailed projects.

In 2022 alone, Nghe An was allocated more than VND 1,295 billion to implement 3 National Target Programs for 977 projects, of which 156 are debt repayment and transition projects (National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction 3 projects, National Target Program for New Rural Development 153 projects; 785 newly started projects with a total estimated investment of less than VND 15 billion (National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas 296 projects, National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction 22 projects, National Target Program for New Rural Development 467 projects).

Along with that, there are 35 new projects starting construction with a total estimated investment of over 15 billion VND and under 100 billion VND (19 projects under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, 14 projects under the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction, 2 projects under the National Target Program for New Rural Development). The project with a total investment of over 100 billion VND includes 1 project under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas.

Based on the number of projects arranged according to the total investment, the newly started projects with a total estimated investment of less than 15 billion VND account for a large number with 785 projects. Thus, the above authorization decision of the Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee with the viewpoint of decentralization and delegation of power will create conditions for initiative; at the same time, attach higher responsibility to the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns in disbursing public investment capital for National Target Programs.