Dirty situation on the nearly 100 billion VND sea dike in Nghe An

The project to build the Quynh Long, Quynh Thuan, Son Hai and Quynh Tho sea dykes was implemented in 2011. This is a project invested by the State under the Government's coastal erosion prevention program in the annual plan, with a total investment of more than 94.5 billion VND.

After 6 years of construction, in February 2017, the project was accepted and handed over to the relevant communes for self-management and protection. However, since the dike line came into operation, many households in Quynh Thuan commune have gathered construction materials on the dike for business and personal gain, affecting the environment and the structure of the dike foot.

On this dike, there are 3 households selling construction materials, dumping materials right on the dike. Photo taken on the afternoon of April 4, 2019: Tan Bao

According to research, the construction material gathering place (including sand, stone, and dashboard bricks) of Mr. Dau Van Han in Quynh Thuan commune has existed for more than 2 years. In addition, there are still some households that also trade in construction materials located along this dike, causingobstructing traffic

Discussing the current situation, Mr. Tran Ngoc Binh - Vice Chairman of Quynh Thuan Commune People's Committee said: "The government has invited construction material businesses to come up to resolve the issue, requesting them to sign a commitment to temporarily suspend operations; the remaining materials will be resolved to return the dike site."

However, through investigation, on April 4, 2019, construction material businesses were still operating, and trucks were still carrying materials and dumping them on the dike surface.

Household waste is collected right on the dike, in front of the drainage gate for the two communes of Quynh Long and Quynh Thuan. Photo taken on the afternoon of April 4, 2019. Photo: Tan Bao

Not only has the occupation of the dike surface to store construction materials not been completely handled, recently this sea dike has also become a place to store construction waste and household waste.

According to observations, on this dike there is a drainage system to prevent flooding for the two communes of Quynh Thuan and Quynh Long. However, right at the mouth of the gate, garbage is dumped down, obstructing the flow.

The above situations affect the environment, hinder traffic participants, and create a messy and dirty situation on the dike with a total investment of nearly 100 billion VND.

Uncollected and untreated waste piled up along the dike. Photo taken on the afternoon of April 4, 2019. Photo: Tan Bao

Sea dykes play a role in responding to climate change, especially preventing sea level rise during storms and floods. Article 7, Chapter 1 of the Law on Dykes clearly stipulates prohibited acts including: destroying dykes; using motor vehicles exceeding the permitted load on dykes; dumping waste within the dyke protection area; leaving materials on dykes; illegally occupying, using or moving materials reserved for flood prevention and control, storms, etc. However, the sea dyke of Quynh Thuan commune (Quynh Luu) is experiencing the above incidents.