Nghe An: Resettlement area deserted for 10 years

The resettlement area of ​​Quynh Trang commune (Hoang Mai town) has been abandoned for the past 10 years. Photo: Van Truong

Following the winding pine forest road, we found the resettlement area of ​​Quynh Trang commune (Hoang Mai town). According to observations, a vast area of ​​land located on the hillside is abandoned, some areas are being used by people to make ornamental pots, some areas are overgrown with weeds, and are used as grazing grounds for buffaloes and cows. Many infrastructure items in the resettlement area have degraded, such as the drainage system is damaged and broken...

The resettlement area of ​​Quynh Trang commune (Hoang Mai town) has good grass growth, and is a place for grazing buffalo and cows. Photo: Van Truong

It is known that the resettlement area of ​​Quynh Trang commune (Hoang Mai town) was built in 2010, with an area of ​​more than 4 hectares in hamlet 4, Quynh Trang commune, to accommodate 66 households in the Hoang Mai riverside area that is often flooded due to Vuc Mau lake releasing floodwaters. Currently, 6 billion VND has been invested. Accordingly, each household is allocated from 300 - 400 m²Land for housing, each household is supported 10-15 million VND to move to a new place.

Some people take advantage of this to produce plastic barrels at the resettlement area of ​​Quynh Trang commune (Hoang Mai town). Photo: Van Truong

To find out why people do not move to the new resettlement area, Mr. Le Cong Ba in Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune (Hoang Mai Town), who is subject to resettlement, shared: "When moving to the new place, the land area is narrow, there are no conditions to garden to increase income, and having to spend money to rebuild the house is very difficult.

Although we know it is dangerous when the flood comes, we still stay in our old place." Currently, Ba's family has come up with a solution of expanding and raising the house's floor. However, during the rainy season, some years the water still rises up to the windows, forcing the whole family and neighbors to take refuge.

Some items in the resettlement area of ​​Quynh Trang commune (Hoang Mai town) such as drainage canals have been damaged. Photo: Van Truong

The representative of the People's Committee of Quynh Trang Commune added: The commune has also repeatedly mobilized people to relocate to the new resettlement area, but it seems to be very difficult. Because the infrastructure of this resettlement area is still unfinished, currently there is only an internal road system, drainage ditch, no electricity, domestic water and a village cultural house... Not to mention that the resettlement area has a small land area, making it difficult to cultivate. We are currently petitioning the People's Committee of Quynh Luu District to change the purpose of use or auction residential land in this resettlement area to avoid waste.

The house of Mr. Le Cong Ba in Hamlet 5, Quynh Trang Commune (Hoang Mai Town) is subject to resettlement and had to raise the old house's foundation to avoid flooding. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Pham Van Hao - Vice Chairman of Hoang Mai Town People's Committee added: Regarding the resettlement area of ​​Quynh Trang commune, Hoang Mai Town People's Committee is currently reviewing and re-evaluating the effectiveness and limitations of the project. After that, it will submit to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration of this resettlement project.

Not far away isresettlement areaQuynh Thang commune, Quynh Luu district is also in a similar situation. This project with a total value of over 10 billion VND, covering an area of ​​5.6 hectares, was built from 2009, and put into use in 2011, including completed items including concrete road system, drainage ditch, electricity, and community cultural house.

The resettlement area in Quynh Thang commune, Quynh Luu district has been abandoned for many years. Photo: Van Truong.

According to the project's objectives, this resettlement area will be arranged for 60 households in Quynh Thang commune who are living in the flooded area along the Vuc Mau irrigation lake, each household will be arranged 600 m²land, including 400 m²residential land, 200 m²production land and relocation support of 20 million VND. However, to date, this resettlement area is still abandoned.

A resettled household here shared: The residential land of the resettled households is very large, ranging from 1,500 - 2,000 m2.², all have solid houses built, convenient for farming so we do not want to go to a new place.

The Cultural House of the resettlement area of ​​Quynh Thang commune, Quynh Luu district has not been used for many years. Photo: Van Truong

Mr. Le Van Nga - Chairman of Quynh Thang Commune People's Committee said: The commune also sees that the abandoned land area in the resettlement area is very wasteful. During meetings with voters, the Commune People's Committee has proposed to Quynh Luu District People's Committee and all levels and sectors to change the purpose of use such as auctioning residential land in this resettlement area, or leasing it to develop commercial services...

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh - Vice Chairman of Quynh Luu District People's Committee added: Currently, Quynh Luu District is submitting a request to superiors for a policy to change the purpose of use to avoid wasting resettlement land area.