The People's Committee of Tuong Duong District responds to the issue raised in the newspaper.
(Baonghean) - The Nghe An Newspaper, in its April 16, 2014 issue, published an article titled: "Irregularities in the collection of fees for electrical equipment in Co Phao village (Tuong Duong)". After investigation and verification, on May 7, 2014, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district issued Official Letter No. 264/UBND-VP in response as follows:
1. The situation regarding electricity supply for residents in resettlement areas:
Yen Na commune has 3 resettlement areas under the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant Project, including:
- Khe Ò Resettlement Area: 46 households.
- Khe Co Ken resettlement area: 44 households.
- Khe Chóng resettlement area: 81 households.
- All three resettlement areas have been supplied with electricity to each household via a standardized power grid, and the handover procedures to Tuong Duong Power Company for management and electricity sales have been completed in accordance with Circular No. 32/2013/TTLT-BCT-BTC dated December 4, 2013, on guiding the handover and return of investment capital for rural low-voltage power grid assets.
2. Current status of the electricity supply system for households residing illegally:
Currently, there are more than 20 households who have illegally moved in and re-encroached on the land, building houses and stalls without permission (this area has already been handed over to the Ban Ve Hydropower project and is not planned as a residential area), including:
24 households purchase electricity from the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant after the T1 transformer station.
Six households purchase electricity from the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant after the T5 transformer station.
In reality, the two substations T1 and T5 are the property of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant. The power poles are made of steel pipe, and the 0.4KV power lines are bare wires. These are temporary installations to serve residential and business needs, so households in this area have to invest in their own electrical equipment to purchase electricity.
3. Collecting fees for electrical equipment from households that have re-encroached on the construction site of the Ban Ve Hydropower Plant:
The fact that Mr. Le Van Khanh, an employee of Tuong Duong Power Company, and local electrician Vi Van Xuan collected money for electrical equipment from the aforementioned households is true as reported in the media. The district's functional agencies have investigated and found that the difference between the collected amount and the estimated unit price is 430,426 VND (Four hundred thirty thousand, four hundred twenty-six dong), specifically as follows:
According to the estimated cost for installing single-phase electricity meters in Tuong Duong district:
- Material costs: 757,600 VND.
- Labor costs: 411,974 VND.
- Total: 1,169,574 VND.
(Since the contract was based on a verbal agreement, the Department of Industry and Trade did not include other costs in the calculation.)
- The actual amount collected from households is: 1,600,000 VND.
- The amount based on the estimated unit price is: 1,169,574 VND.
Difference: 430,426 VND.
4. Proposed solution:
Assign responsibility to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Na Commune and the Director of Tuong Duong Power Company:
- Instruct local electricians and Tuong Duong Power Company staff to immediately refund the difference of 430,426 VND to each household that had agreed with local electricians on the installation of electrical equipment, compared to the estimated unit price, before May 10, 2014.
- Conduct a review to clarify responsibilities and impose disciplinary measures on local electricians and employees of Tuong Duong Power Company, and report to the District People's Committee before May 15, 2014.
- For the time being, the Tuong Duong Power Company is tasked with directing and guiding local electricians to implement measures to repair and ensure the safety of the power system, especially during the rainy and stormy season.
The People's Committee of Tuong Duong District thanks the reporter and the editorial board of Nghe An Newspaper for their timely reporting. The People's Committee of Tuong Duong District accepts the feedback and will take timely corrective measures.
TUONG DUONG DISTRICT PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE