Nghe An: Requesting strict handling of units violating regulations on land filling on Hoang Mai River and Nha Le Canal

On the morning of October 19, 2022, Nghe An electronic newspaper had an article“Return the flow of Hoang Mai River!”, reflecting the current situation in Hoang Mai town, the Hoang Mai River and Nha Le Canal are blocked due to the construction of the coastal bridge and road from Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa) - Cua Lo (Nghe An) and the expressway bridge and road across Hoang Mai River which has not been thoroughly handled.

In response to the incident reported by Nghe An Newspaper, on the afternoon of October 19, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An Province issued Document No. 223/BCH-PCTT on handling the issue reported by the newspaper. In particular, toTo ensure the ability to drain floods on Hoang Mai River and Nha Le Canal in the face of natural disasters from now until the end of the year, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province has requested Project Management Board 6 - Ministry of Transport; Nghe An Department of Transport to direct relevant units to seriously implement the contents of Documents No. 113/BCHPCTT dated July 14, 2022 of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of the province on handling water flow congestion due to the construction of coastal bridges and roads from Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa) - Cua Lo (Nghe An) across Hoang Mai River and Nha Le Canal; Document No. 114/BCHPCTT dated July 15, 2022 of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of the province on handling water flow congestion due to the construction of expressway bridges across Hoang Mai River.

At the scene at the foot of Hoang Mai 2 bridge on the afternoon of October 17, it was clear that the soil and rocks piled across the Hoang Mai river had not been completely cleared. Photo: Tien Dong

Specifically, in Documents No. 113 and No. 114, the Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense clearly stated that on July 12, 2022 (about 2 months before the rainy and stormy season), the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province presided over and coordinated with the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town and the Bac Nghe An Irrigation One Member Co., Ltd. to inspect the construction site of the expressway bridge over the Hoang Mai River and the coastal road over the Hoang Mai River and Nha Le canal.

At the construction site of the highway across the Hoang Mai River, the construction unit has built a road across the Hoang Mai River, only widening the drainage channel by about 12m (the riverbed is about 100m wide), causing blockage of the flow, with a high risk of flooding when there is heavy rain and flooding, especially when the Vuc Mau reservoir is discharged.

At the construction site of the coastal road on Hoang Mai River, the construction unit also built a road across Hoang Mai River (southern branch of the river), causing blockage of the flow. In addition, the construction unit built a road across Nha Le Canal, only widening the drainage flow by about 8m (the canal is about 45m wide), causing narrowing and blockage of the flow, with a high risk of flooding the residential area and aquaculture area of ​​Quynh Loc Commune, Quynh Di Ward when there is heavy rain and flooding.

At the southern branch of the Hoang Mai River on the coastal route, the construction unit also built a road across the river, causing a blockage in the flow (photo taken on the afternoon of October 17). Photo: Tien Dong

At that time, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province also requested Project Management Board 6 - Ministry of Transport; Nghe An Department of Transport to direct relevant units to urgently clear the flow blockage on Hoang Mai River and Nha Le Canal, return the riverbed to its original state, no later than July 20, 2022, and take reasonable construction measures to avoid affecting flood drainage and take full responsibility before the law if there is a flow blockage, causing damage due to construction.

The latest document issued by the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province requires relevant units to thoroughly handle the issue raised by Nghe An Newspaper. Photo: Tien Dong

It can be seen that there have been many documents issued by local authorities and management units, even warning about the blockage of the flow if the soil and rocks that are built across the Hoang Mai River and Nha Le Canal are not cleared. In fact, on October 17, Nghe An Newspaper reporters were present and found that the soil and rocks at these locations had not been completely cleared.

Also in a recent document, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province requested the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town to implement the provisions of the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control; Decree No. 03/2022/ND-CP dated January 6, 2022 of the Government stipulating administrative sanctions for violations in the fields of natural disaster prevention and control; irrigation; and dykes for violating units.