Nghe An: Assigning localities to speed up disbursement progress of North-South expressway project

On the afternoon of September 16, under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting on the implementation of the Project.North-South Expressway section through Nghe An. Attending were leaders of localities: Hoang Mai Town, Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, Yen Thanh and representatives of relevant departments, sectors, Project Management Board 6 (Ministry of Transport).

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Thu Huyen

The North-South Expressway project through Nghe An province is about 87.84 km long, including 2 sub-projects: Nghi Son - Dien Chau section and Dien Chau - Bai Vot sub-project, passing through Hoang Mai town and the districts: Quynh Luu, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc and Hung Nguyen. The number of resettled households is about 697 households. Total cost of land acquisition: 2,191 billion VND (Nghi Son - Dien Chau section: 1,033 billion VND; Dien Chau - Bai Vot section: 1,088 billion VND). Currently, Project Management Board 6 has completed the handover of land acquisition stakes to 38/38 communes.

Disbursement is very slow

According to the Department of Transport, in the past time, the People's Committees of the districts have carried out the work of compensation, support and resettlement of the project. Up to now, some districts and towns have completed some tasks such as: extracting and measuring; selecting resettlement sites, completing the inventory of agricultural land in some communes, reviewing public works (electricity, VNPT telecommunications). However, the localities have not focused strongly, the implementation progress is still slow compared to the set plan.

Deputy Director of the Department of Transport Nguyen Duc An said that the disbursement progress is currently very slow, and requested localities to disburse compensation funds for site clearance according to the capital plan allocated in 2019. Photo: Thu Huyen

Project Management Board 6 has allocated 660 billion VND, of which: Nghi Son - Dien Chau section: 320 billion VND, Dien Chau - Bai Vot section: 340 billion VND. However, up to now, localities have not made plans to disburse the allocated compensation funds for land acquisition and clearance. According to the Government's request, this year the funds must be disbursed, but so far not a single dong has been disbursed.

Mr. Nguyen Duc An - Deputy Director of Department of Transport

The process of implementing the measurement and extraction of land in localities is also slower than planned and scheduled, especially the section through Yen Thanh, Dien Chau districts, Hoang Mai town, and Hung Nguyen.

Resettlement work: Approval of detailed planning 1/500 for resettlement locations through Yen Thanh and Dien Chau districts is slow, according to the expected progress, the planning approval will be completed in July 2019.

Inventory and counting work: The section through Quynh Luu district was approved for extraction and measurement before August 6, 2019, but the inventory of agricultural land was not implemented until September 2019. The section through Hung Nguyen district was approved for extraction and measurement of Hung Yen Bac commune and about 1 km of Hung Trung commune before August 10, 2019, but until now, people's meetings and asset inventory for agricultural land have only been organized. Reviewing technical infrastructure works and graves is still slow: Up to now, localities have not counted all affected works (water lines, Viettel, etc.), and have not counted all graves that must be relocated.

North-South Expressway route through Nghe An. Photo: Thu Huyen

Focus on completing resettlement areas in April 2020

The target set for the section passing through agricultural land is to be completed in December 2019; Section passing through residential land and gardens but not subject to resettlement:Expected to be completed in March 2020; Section passing through residential land and gardens must be resettled:Expected completion in June 2020. Construction of resettlement areas is expected to be completed in April 2020.

At the meeting, local representatives raised a number of problems in compensation and resettlement, etc., and these recommendations were basically answered and resolved by relevant departments, branches, and Project Management Board 6.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa spoke and proposed to speed up the progress of handing over the site to the investor to implement the project. Photo: Thu Huyen

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa emphasized: In order to carry out the work of compensation, support and resettlement to ensure the project progress and the proposed plan, it is recommended that districts and towns mobilize the entire political system to participate; promptly, fully, in the right order and on schedule, prepare documents, notify land recovery, appraise plans, recover land, approve compensation plans in accordance with regulations and hand over the site to ensure progress.

Urgently review the resettlement subjects, carry out investment in infrastructure construction of resettlement areas to serve only affected households. Make a plan to disburse compensation funds for land acquisition and clearance, complete disbursement before December 31, 2019 according to regulations. If any locality fails to complete the disbursement work according to the capital plan that has been arranged, causing the capital to be recovered, it must take full responsibility.

Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa also requested the units: Electricity, VNPT Telecommunications, Viettel Nghe An to coordinate with the People's Committees of districts and towns to inspect and review the works of their units that are affected by the project to have a relocation plan to ensure progress, the relocation process ensures savings and efficiency.Departments and branches: Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Finance, etc. guide and resolve difficulties and problems for the People's Committees of districts and towns in accordance with regulations according to the functions and tasks of the branch.