Tuong Duong: Proactively prevent landslides

(Baonghean) - Although the state has provided huge investment support to develop infrastructure, especially roads, resettlement sites to avoid landslides, rockslides, etc., due to lack of synchronous implementation, during the rainy season, Tuong Duong district has many landslides, greatly affecting people's lives...

The road leading to Lien Huong and Tung Huong villages, Tam Quang commune, still has traces of landslides, the cliffs are vertical as if about to collapse onto the road. Mr. Vi Xuan Thuy in Tung Huong village (house near a frequent landslide site) said: "Commune and district officials have come to mobilize people to move their houses to a safe place but in reality they have not provided any financial support. When we arrive at the new place, we are afraid that our lives will not be secure, so my family will stay here. When there is a big flood, we will temporarily move, then we will return." It is known that the road leading to the three border villages of Tung Huong, Tan Huong, and Lien Huong, which was invested by the State with over 120 billion VND, was put into use in 2012 to serve over 420 households of the three villages. However, during the rainy season, due to the difficult terrain, landslides often occur. In 2013, Tung Huong and Lien Huong villages were hit by landslides 3-4 times, sweeping away about 5,000-6,000 cubic meters of earth and rock, burying the road, isolating the two villages for many days. Currently, Tung Huong and Lien Huong villages alone have 7 households near the landslide risk point.

Residential area in Hoa Dong block (Hoa Binh town, Tuong Duong) is close to the landslide area.

Mr. Ho Viet Son - Chairman of Tam Quang Commune People's Committee said: Tam Quang Commune has 12 villages, many of which have frequent landslides. In addition to the landslides on Tung Huong and Lien Huong roads, landslides also occur along National Highway 7, KM 121, Nhung village. This village has 134 households, including 2 affected households: Mr. Nguyen Ham Minh and Nguyen Linh. To deal with landslides, the commune has reviewed nearly 10 households in landslide-prone areas and asked them to sign a commitment to move to a safe place. The commune is asking for a budget of 8 million VND/household from the district (relocation support money) for people to settle in a new place. Warnings are being issued in areas where landslides often occur to prohibit people and vehicles from traveling. Up to now, 12/12 villages have a shock force, the core of which is the militia and self-defense force, on duty and promptly handling incidents that occur.

Also in Hoa Binh Town (Tuong Duong), there are about 25 households living in fear of landslides when the rainy season comes. Most of the households are close to the mountains that have been leveled, many households have spent their own money to build stone embankments, but because the cliffs are vertical and the amount of water pouring down is too large, it is still very difficult to prevent landslides. Going into Yen Na, Yen Hoa, Yen Tinh communes, there are dozens of landslides, typically along the road to Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, there are 3 landslides, in 2013 the district mobilized 2 excavators to level 5,000 m3 of soil and rock. In Yen Na commune alone, there are more than 5-7 large and small landslides, in Khe Chong village (resettlement village of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant), although stone embankments have been built, people are still very worried.

On the side of Khe O village is the resettlement village of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, with about 45 households. Due to fear of landslides, about 40 households have taken refuge by moving their houses to the former Ban Ve Hydropower Plant construction site. Currently, only 5 households that have not been able to move are still staying here. Mr. Lo Hoai Thom - Chairman of Yen Na Commune People's Committee said: "The land where people moved to the old construction site of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant to temporarily live has not been handed over yet, however, because it is too dangerous, people had to evacuate to live temporarily. Therefore, the Management Board of Hydropower Plant II needs to have a plan to build embankments or invest in a new resettlement site for people to live in peace."

Mr. Lo Kham Kha - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuong Duong district said: Tuong Duong currently has over 40 large and small landslides concentrated in the communes of Tam Quang, Yen Na, Yen Tinh, Yen Hoa, Xa Luong, Luong Minh, Xieng My. To minimize the risk of landslides, from the beginning of 2014 until now, the district has allocated over 2 billion VND from the budget to dig up soil and level landslides and stream bank landslides in the two villages of Tung Huong and Lien Huong, Tam Quang commune. Mobilizing people to plant trees and plants in areas frequently affected by landslides to prevent erosion concentrated in the communes of Thach Giam, Tam Quang, Tam Dinh... Continuing to mobilize and support households living in landslide areas to relocate to safe places.

Up to now, 37 households in Xop Mat village, Luong Minh commune, which is often affected by landslides, have been relocated to a new, safe resettlement site. Currently, there are more than 20 households in the landslide warning area that the district is mobilizing and allocating budget resources to relocate them in the locality. The People's Committee of Tuong Duong district has also prepared 6 excavators at key locations to promptly level the ground; 1 generator, 6 tents to prevent temporary relocation in case of an incident. Along with that, gasoline and essential goods are reserved to supply the people isolated by landslides. Assign and arrange district officials to monitor and promptly grasp information about natural disasters that may occur in the district. Direct communes to place warning signs at landslide locations, and organize forces to guard both ends of landslide locations to prohibit people and vehicles from traveling...

In Tuong Duong area, there are many places at risk of landslides, affecting people's lives and property. Authorities at all levels and sectors should soon take action to consider and come up with a solution to help people stabilize their lives.

Van Truong