Nghe An will merge 18 communes and towns in 2019

On the morning of April 10, the Department of Home Affairs held a conference to disseminate the arrangement and merger of administrative units at all levels in the province.

At the conference, delegates were informed of Resolution 37-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the merger of district and commune-level administrative units; Report on the implementation of the merger of commune-level administrative units in the past time and tasks for the coming time.

Director of the Department of Home Affairs Dau Van Thanh speaks at the conference. Photo: Thanh Le

Nghe An has 21 district-level administrative units and 480 commune-level administrative units. According to regulations, Nghe An has 3 district-level administrative units that meet both standards on area, scale and population, including Quy Hop, Thanh Chuong and Yen Thanh. 14 districts, Vinh city and 3 towns have not met the standards on natural area and population size.

At the commune level, 430 administrative units have not met the standards for natural area and population size as prescribed (387 communes, 26 wards, 17 towns). 18 commune-level administrative units (15 communes, 3 towns) have not met 50% of the 2 standards for natural area and population size.

List of 15 communes and 3 towns to be merged in 2019

- 3 towns:Muong Xen (Ky Son district), Hoa Binh (Tuong Duong district), Kim Son (Que Phong district).

- 15 communes:Thanh Tuong (Thanh Chuong district); Dien Minh, Dien Binh (Dien Chau district); Hung Tan, Hung Thang, Hung Tien, Hung Xa, Hung Nhan, Hung Phu, Hung Khanh, Hung Lam (Hung Nguyen district); Nghi Hop (Nghi Loc district); Nam Thuong, Nam Phuc (Nam Dan district); Tam Son (Anh Son district).

Officials of Hoa Binh town (Tuong Duong) handle administrative procedures for people. Photo: Thanh Le

Speaking at the conference, Director of the Department of Home Affairs Dau Van Thanh emphasized: The arrangement of commune-level administrative units and the merger of hamlets, blocks, and villages is a necessary task to rationally organize administrative units at all levels in accordance with the practical situation and development trends, associated with innovation in arranging a streamlined, effective, and efficient organizational apparatus.

The head of the Home Affairs sector requested that localities reorganize commune-level administrative units (for communes stipulated for phase 1 merger), and complete the merger of hamlets, blocks, and villages in 2019.

The People's Committees of districts, cities and towns shall direct and guide specialized agencies and local authorities at district and commune levels to advise on the development of plans to arrange administrative units at commune level; develop projects to merge hamlets, blocks and villages. Have a plan to collect voters' opinions; approve the People's Councils from commune to district level. On that basis, synthesize and report to the Department of Home Affairs before April 30, 2019 for the Department to synthesize, organize appraisal and submit to the Provincial People's Committee for approval and submit to the Provincial People's Council for approval.

Chairman of Que Phong District People's Committee Le Van Giap shared the difficulties when merging villages and hamlets in Que Phong. Photo: Thanh Le

The Director of the Department of Home Affairs emphasized: The arrangement process must ensure the principle that after the arrangement, newly formed administrative units must meet the standards of natural area and population size according to regulations. In the process of developing plans to arrange administrative units, localities need to be cautious, carefully consider specific factors to have specific proposals, and report to request the Government's direction.

In parallel with the process of reviewing, planning and proposing the arrangement of commune-level administrative units, it is necessary to review and evaluate the current situation of cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers to have a plan to arrange the apparatus and assign cadres to the newly formed administrative units after the arrangement.