Nghe An: Road completed 8 years ago, people have not received all compensation money

Through the hotline of Nghe An Newspaper, people of Hanh Dich commune reflected that the traffic project of Hanh Dich - Muong Dan (in Hanh Dich commune, Que Phong)was implemented and completed in 2010, but until now, many households whose land was recovered and cleared have not received all the compensation money. The debt of compensation money for land acquisition and clearance of the project has affected the lives of the people.

Mr. Lo Van Long (residing in Cong village, Hanh Dich commune, Que Phong district), one of the families whose land area was affected in the Hanh Dich - Muong Dan traffic route planning, said that after being explained and persuaded by the local government, he gave up his land for the project to be implemented. Up to now, the road has been handed over and put into use for 8 years, but his family has not yet received all the compensation.

Although the road was completed 8 years ago, there are still 24 households that have not received full compensation. Photo: PB

Mr. Long's family is not the only case. In Hanh Dich commune, Que Phong district, 135 households have given up their land to implement the project, but up to now, 24 households in Khom, Cham Put, Mut, Cong, Na Cay villages... have not received full compensation for land and assets on the land.

Ironically, due to being in use for a long time, many points on the road have been damaged and degraded. Many sections are peeling off, rocks are protruding on the road surface, making it difficult for people to travel on the road.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Luong Tien Le - Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanh Dich Commune shook his head and said that the people had come to the commune many times to ask, in many meetings of the People's Council, and in meetings with voters, they also questioned, the commune also made recommendations to all levels but they had not been resolved. Most of the households that have not received all the compensation money are poor households.

"People's wish is to soon receive compensation for the property affected by the project because this is the legitimate right of the people," said Mr. Le.

The Hanh Dich - Muong Dan traffic project was approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision 4855 dated December 17, 2004 with a total investment of more than 27.5 billion VND. The project is invested by the People's Committee of Que Phong district. The project is allocated from the funding and support of JICA; the state budget invests counterpart capital and mobilizes other legal capital sources.

On the route, many points are damaged and degraded. Photo: PB

Que Phong District People's Committee is responsible for compensation and site clearance. The project started construction in 2007 and was completed and put into use in 2010.

The total number of households affected by the project is 135, with the approved compensation budget being nearly 1.5 billion VND. To date, the compensation budget for site clearance has only been allocated to over 620 million VND. The amount of site clearance money still owed to the people is over 860 million VND.

Ms. Lo Thi Nguyet - Head of the Finance and Planning Department of Que Phong district said that the project was implemented with capital from Jica Japan, while other costs such as compensation for site clearance, bomb and mine clearance, supervision, etc. came from the provincial budget.

“When the project was implemented, the people agreed to give up their land for the project to be built. However, the provincial budget has not been allocated to pay compensation to the people. The district has also made many requests to the province to request early allocation of this capital, but it has not been resolved yet,” said Ms. Nguyet.

Que Phong district also affirmed that this is a disadvantage for the people when the road project has been completed and put into use for quite a long time, some places are degraded but have not yet received compensation.

“Next year (2019), the district also asked the province to include it in the list of funds allocated for public investment, but it was not approved, so there is no budget to pay the people. The district's budget is not enough to cover expenses, there is always a deficit, so it is difficult to have a source to pay," said Ms. Lo Thi Nguyet - Head of the Finance and Planning Department of Que Phong district. She added that recently, the district People's Committee also proposed to the district People's Council to save costs to have some money to pay the people in the coming time, but it is not known when it will be enough.

The leaders of Que Phong district said that the district's viewpoint is to always prioritize all capital sources to arrange compensation to ensure the rights of the people. The district also applies the latest compensation price so that the people are not disadvantaged, but the difficulty is still not being able to arrange capital sources.

And so, people still have to wait... not knowing when they will receive compensation./.