People in Hai Thinh hamlet (Nghi Thiet, Nghi Loc) continue to petition to completely resolve the problem of environmental pollution.
(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of July 21, the authorities held a dialogue with the people of Hai Thinh hamlet (Nghi Thiet) to resolve their petitions related to resettlement and environmental protection. This is also the reason why people have continued to block the trucks of Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company in recent days.
Comrade Le Tien Tri - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board chaired the dialogue. Also attending were leaders of a number of departments, branches, and local authorities; representatives of Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company; and a large number of people from Hai Thinh hamlet, Nghi Thiet commune.
Concerns about environmental pollution
Recently, some residents of Hai Thinh hamlet, Nghi Thiet commune (Nghi Loc), continued to gather at the main road leading to Vissai seaport to prevent trucks from carrying goods from entering and leaving the port.
The reason why people gathered to prevent trucks from entering and leaving the port is related to resettlement issues and concerns about environmental pollution. Especially recently, when there was informationSong Lam Cement Joint Stock Companywill build a coal storage yard, install a coal screening and mixing line in the general port area, many households in Hai Thinh hamlet fear that when put into operation, it will cause environmental pollution and affect people's health.
In addition, the people of Hai Thinh hamlet also requested the local government and Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company to fulfill their promises about building a boat mooring station, building a cultural house, etc.
Regarding this issue, about a month ago, on June 23, 2023, representatives of local authorities, specialized departments and offices of Nghi Loc District People's Committee, Southeast Economic Zone Management Board and leaders of Song Lam Nghe An Cement Joint Stock Company also had a dialogue with people about resettlement and environmental issues surrounding the project.
During the dialogue, the people reiterated the promise of support from all levels and sectors to build a cultural house for Bac Thinh and Nam Thinh hamlets - now merged into Hai Thinh hamlet since 2017 - which has not yet been resolved. Meanwhile, the cultural house of Hai Thinh hamlet is currently in a state of disrepair and is too cramped, no longer meeting the cultural needs of the people as well as the process of building a new rural area in the locality.
Not to mention, many households in Hai Thinh hamlet are subject to relocation due to the impact of the cement grinding station and seaport construction project (belonging to Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company), but have not yet been relocated or resettled. This makes the lives of the people extremely difficult, as they have to maintain their dilapidated houses, cannot repair them and live too close to the grinding station area.
Opening the dialogue this afternoon, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung - Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee raised issues with the relevant departments and Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company, explaining to the local authorities and people a number of related issues, such as: the land planned for the construction of the enterprise's wharf; the functions and tasks of the seaport; the authority to approve the environmental impact assessment report; the issue of traffic regulation on the route leading to the seaport; and especially asking the company to explain to the local authorities and people about the water tanks that appeared during the construction of the port that people suspect are the company's wastewater tanks...
At the dialogue session, 10 opinions and recommendations from local people were recorded. Some residents of Hai Thinh hamlet continued to express their frustrations regarding the issue of environmental pollution. Mr. Nguyen Van Cai - 76 years old, a resident of Hai Thinh hamlet said: It is not natural that local people gathered together to block cargo trucks from entering the seaport. What people are worried about is that environmental pollution will cause many diseases, causing mass fish deaths...
Mr. Nguyen Van Chuc - Head of Hai Thinh hamlet also suggested that businesses need to review their relationship with local people, avoiding "bureaucracy" when receiving and responding to feedback from local people.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Xuan - a resident of Hai Thinh hamlet, also a representative of Nghi Thiet commune People's Council, said that the government as well as the company need to thoroughly resolve the people's petitions, especially those from previous dialogues. Avoid prolonging the situation, affecting the government's reputation with the people.
In addition, the people also requested the company and local authorities to completely resolve the issue of compensation and resettlement. It is necessary to clarify whether the company uses water tanks to store wastewater; is it allowed to collect wood chips and stone powder? The issue of ensuring traffic safety for people traveling on the road where many heavy trucks often enter and exit...
The company pledged to completely resolve the problems.
Responding to the opinions and recommendations of the people, comrade Le Tien Tri - Head of the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone said: The investment in construction and implementation of the two projects of the Cement Grinding Station and Vissai Seaport are all carried out based on a complete legal basis, approved by the Provincial People's Committee in principle and licensed for investment and construction by competent authorities... In which, the Cement Grinding Station project planning has an area of over 69 hectares, the grinding station area is over 67 hectares, the rest is the area of traffic infrastructure and facilities. For Vissai Seaport, the planning area is over 400 hectares, of which the water surface area is over 397 hectares and the natural coastal land area is about 10 hectares...
Comrade Le Tien Tri also informed that the items of wood chip and stone powder gathering are also shown in the business license, and have been shown in the enterprise's environmental impact report.
The construction of a boat mooring station and a resettlement area for households in the project area has also been included in the planning. The provincial People's Committee has assigned the construction of the resettlement area to Nghi Loc district to implement. If there are any problems, they must be reported promptly for timely handling. Strive to start construction in 2023 and complete and hand over to the people by January 2024.
After receiving comments from the local people, comrade Le Tien Tri also requested Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company to do a good job of mobilizing the local people, especially when they have sacrificed, accepted to relocate, and gave up the land for the investment project. Requested the company to survey and arrange jobs for local people. Coordinate with the authorities to re-determine the area for land clearance...
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Oanh - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company sincerely apologizes to the local government and people for causing frustration to the people in the recent past. Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company itself has had a close relationship with the people for many years, since it began laying the first foundations to implement the project. However, recently, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company's production and business activities have also encountered many difficulties.
Mr. Oanh also affirmed that the enterprise did not encroach beyond the project's planning scope; the cement grinding station did not have toxic wastewater, and the water tanks were transported to cool the equipment and machinery structures in the context of prolonged heat. In addition, the environmental monitoring results were always controlled and the data was transferred to the competent authorities for monitoring and management. In the coming time, the Company will print the monitoring results and send them to local people...
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Oanh also represented the company, promising to the people of Hai Thinh hamlet that in the coming time, the solidarity and close relationship with the local people will be further strengthened; will assign an officer in charge of receiving and responding to the opinions and suggestions of the people in the most timely and complete manner...
