Nghe An: Dialogue with people related to the eternal ecological park project

Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee chaired the dialogue. Participating in the dialogue were leaders of provincial departments, branches, and sectors, Hung Nguyen district, Hung Tay commune, the project investor, Phuc Lac Vien Company Limited - Nghe An Universal Transformation Station, and many people from Phuc Dien hamlet, Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen. Photo: Pham Bang

CAPTURE AND RESPOND TO CITIZENS' PROPOSALS

Opening the dialogue conference, Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that the conference aims to widely inform organizations, individuals, and communities and clarify the project content, directly grasp the aspirations, reflections, and legitimate recommendations of the people to promptly respond. Thereby, creating consensus among the people when implementing policies and guidelines for socio-economic development and ensuring security, order, and social safety in the area.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also provided general information to the people about the Project.eternal ecological cemetery parkin Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district and affirmed that the planning of the construction of an eternal ecological cemetery park in the western area bordering the Vinh city planning demonstrates the strategic vision and correct policy of the Government, of Nghe An province, in line with the civilized trend of building ecological cemetery parks that the country and the world have implemented. The project will contribute to the successful implementation of the long-term complete planning of Vinh city and the province.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa delivered the opening speech at the dialogue conference. Photo: Pham Bang

At the dialogue, people raised their opinions, concerns and wanted the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee and departments and branches to answer specifically and fully. The contents that people have opinions that need to be answered include: Has the project ensured the planning or not? Does the construction of the cemetery affect the planning of expanding Vinh city space or not? Does it affect urban development or not? Has the implementation of the project ensured the correct process and order?

Some residents of Phuc Dien hamlet are still concerned that the project does not ensure environmental safety distance according to regulations; compensation is not satisfactory, and community consultation has not been organized...

Citizens of Phuc Dien hamlet speak at the dialogue conference. Photo: Pham Bang

Citizens of Phuc Dien hamlet speak at the dialogue conference. Photo: Pham Bang

PROJECTS ENSURING PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISTANCE

Responding to questions from the people, Mr. Thai Van Nong - Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Nghe An affirmed that according to Article 62 of the 2013 Land Law, the project is on the list of land recovered by the State for socio-economic development for national and public interests. And in fact, the People's Council of Nghe An province has issued 2 Resolutions allowing land recovery and change of land use purpose to implement the project. According to regulations, households and individuals who legally manage and use land will be considered, compensated and supported by the State in accordance with regulations.

Mr. Thai Van Nong also affirmed that the environmental impacts of the project and the corresponding mitigation measures of the Eternal Ecological Cemetery Park Project in Hung Tay Commune have been appraised by the Appraisal Council under Decision No. 590/QD-STNMT dated October 2, 2019 of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 5416/QD-UBND dated September 26, 2019. Previously, on August 30, 2019, a public consultation session was also held in Hung Tay Commune, including many components, including people of Hung Tay Commune.

Mr. Thai Van Nong - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Natural Resources and Environment responded to citizens' opinions. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding environmental protection, the Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that the project's wastewater will be collected and centrally treated at a closed wastewater treatment system with a capacity of 788m3/day, meeting QCVN 28:2010/BTNMT National Technical Regulation on medical wastewater before being discharged into the environment. The treated exhaust gas meets QCVN 02:2012/BTNMT - National Technical Regulation on medical solid waste incinerators before being discharged into the environment. Waste is collected, transported and treated in accordance with regulations.

Regarding the group of questions about the project's construction planning, Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang - Director of Nghe An Department of Construction said that the project of the eternal ecological cemetery park in Hung Tay commune was invested in and constructed to ensure compliance with the planning approved by competent authorities up to now.

Specifically: The general planning of Hung Tay commune (scale 1/2000) was approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 29/QD-UBND dated January 4, 2007; The general planning of new rural areas of Hung Tay commune was approved by the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district in Decision No. 291/QD-UBND dated December 28, 2010; The adjustment of the general planning of Vinh city (scale 1/10,000), Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2050 was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 52/QD-TTg dated January 14, 2015.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang - Director of the Department of Construction responded to citizens' opinions. Photo: Pham Bang

According to Mr. Giang, after the third adjustment, the location of the cremation area and the administrative area was moved deep into the valley. In addition, based on the general planning of Vinh city (scale 1/10,000) to 2030, vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 52/QD-TTg, the entire area (agricultural land) located between Vinh Hang ecological cemetery park and the residential area of ​​Phuc Dien hamlet of Hung Tay commune is oriented to plan the construction of urban technical infrastructure works (highway and North-South high-speed railway). In addition to the land area for construction of traffic roads and technical infrastructure systems, the remaining land area on both sides of the road is arranged to plant isolated trees combined with landscape trees to serve the road safety corridor. Accordingly, there is no urban development orientation in this area.

After several planning adjustments, up to now, the distance between items in the Eternal Ecological Park project in Hung Tay commune, Hung Nguyen district has ensured environmental safety according to the National Technical Regulations on Construction Planning issued by the Ministry of Construction in Circular 01/202/TT-BXD dated May 19, 2021.

Specifically: The burial area is 1,380m (380m more) to the East of the residential area and 1,200m (200m more) to the South of the residential area. The single burial area is 960m (460m more) to the East of the residential area. The sand burial area is 460m (360m more) to the East of the residential area. The cremation area is about 1,570m (1,070m more) to the East of the residential area; about 970m (470m more) to the Southeast of the residential area and about 700m (200m more) to the Southwest of the residential area.

Overview of the dialogue conference. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the compensation and site clearance work, the leaders of Hung Nguyen district affirmed that the land acquisition and compensation work was organized by the district in accordance with the procedures and regulations. The district has organized 5 meetings with relevant agencies, organizations, units and households to announce the policy and resolve difficulties in the project's site clearance work. Hung Tay commune also issued Notice No. 73/TB-UBND, dated February 26, 2021, on providing evidence related to the Eternal Ecological Cemetery Park Project. However, after the deadline for posting the notice, people could not provide documents to prove that the State had allocated land.

The fact that the investor carried out construction while Hung Nguyen district was implementing Directive 16 of the Prime Minister to prevent and combat the Covid-19 epidemic, according to the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Nguyen district, was in accordance with the regulations according to Official Dispatch No. 3373 dated August 23, 2021 of the Ministry of Construction. Because the eternal ecological cemetery park project is a key project of the province.

“If any household or individual has records or documents proving that the State has allocated land within the project scope, they should provide them to Hung Tay commune and the Land Clearance Council of Hung Nguyen district for consideration and resolution, ensuring legitimate rights according to the law,” affirmed Mr. Hoang Anh Tien - Vice Chairman of Hung Nguyen District People's Committee.

ENSURING A SAFE LIFE FOR PEOPLE IS ABOVE ALL

Concluding the conference, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa said that the conference had received 32 opinions from the people of Phuc Dien hamlet, related to 4 main groups of issues. Through this, the province will continue to have solutions, with the goal of ensuring a safe life for the people above all, not trading the environment for other benefits. However, it must also be agreed that when the environment has been achieved according to the current standards of the State, there must be a common consensus for implementation.

Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee concluded the dialogue. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding planning, the Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee said that the province is actively developing the Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, to submit to the Government for approval in accordance with the national planning. And the project of the eternal ecological cemetery park in Hung Tay commune is also included in the Provincial Planning. In addition, to the East and West of the provincial highway, there is no urban development orientation and this is in accordance with Decision No. 52 of the Prime Minister.

Regarding the order and procedures for project implementation, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa said that after listening to the opinions of the people, he realized that in the project implementation process, there may be some procedures that the people have not fully grasped. Therefore, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Provincial People's Committee Office to preside over and coordinate with relevant units to review and report back to the Provincial People's Committee, especially the issue of community consultation.

Perspective of the Eternal Ecological Cemetery Park Project

Regarding the environmental issue, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa affirmed that this is an issue that not only the people but also the government are particularly concerned about. However, this issue cannot only be observed and evaluated with the naked eye but also needs to be evaluated on a scientific basis.

Therefore, the Provincial People's Committee will establish a working group consisting of representatives from departments, branches, districts, communes, consulting units, and people's representatives to determine the distance of the project to residential areas on a scientific basis. When the project distance meets the standards, people need to agree and create conditions for the investor to construct the project on schedule. If the project does not meet the prescribed distance, there are two options: One is not to implement the project; the other is to relocate people out of the project's area of ​​influence. Therefore, people need to be very calm and trust the direction of the province./.