Lack of transparency in compensation for land clearance for the power system in Quynh Vinh commune.

(Baonghean) - Baonghean Newspaper has received a complaint from voters in Quynh Vinh commune (Hoang Mai town) regarding the compensation and land clearance process for the 0.4kw low-voltage power system under the Tan Thang Cement Factory Road Project, alleging a lack of transparency.

Is the town inspector's report inaccurate?

According to feedback from voters in Quynh Vinh commune, prior to the National Assembly and People's Council elections, there was a stir in the commune about Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao - a candidate for the commune-level People's Council - who personally funded the construction of a nearly 1km long 0.4kw low-voltage power line for households in the Doi Tuong reservoir area (from the transformer station in Hamlet 1 running along the road of the Tan Thang Cement Factory Project) with a total cost of approximately 50 million VND.

The power lines leading to the homes of residents in Doi Tuong are sagging and spliced ​​in many places.

However, it was only after the election that information emerged revealing that the funding for the power line construction was not from Mr. Thao's own money, but actually came from compensation for land clearance for the Tan Thang Cement Factory Road Project, which was implemented in 2012 (115 million VND).

Mr. Thao built the power line because the compensation issue had been kept secret for over four years, only to be exposed just before the election. Voters in Quynh Vinh commune requested: "The competent authorities need to investigate and clarify this matter. If those involved are innocent, they should be commended; if they have violated the law, they should be punished according to regulations…"

Following reports from voters in Quynh Vinh commune, the local authorities are investigating the matter. In July 2016, the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town issued report No. 661/UBND-TTr on the results of handling complaints from citizens of Quynh Vinh commune.

According to the report, the 0.4kw low-voltage power line running along the Tan Thang Cement Plant Project road to the houses of residents in the Doi Tuong reservoir area was built by four households (including Mr. Le Tran Trang, Mr. Nguyen Van Chuong, Mr. Van Sy Hoang, and Mr. Le Thac Manh) who funded its own construction for their use.

In 2009, in accordance with the policy of transferring rural electricity grids, the Vinh Hoa Agricultural and Electricity Service Cooperative, headed by Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao, handed over its entire electricity grid to Quynh Luu Power Company, including the 0.4kw low-voltage power lines of the aforementioned households.

In 2011, during the implementation of the Tan Thang Cement Factory access road construction project, the Quynh Luu Land Compensation Council prepared compensation documents for the relocation of power lines worth 115.083 million VND. Representing the cooperative, Chairman Nguyen Huu Thao accepted the money and proceeded with the construction and relocation of the power lines.

Sections of the electrical wiring system are not up to standard.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao reported to the Inspectorate of Hoang Mai Town that after receiving compensation, he used the money to relocate, repair, and replace the power lines in two phases. The first phase was carried out in 2012 with an amount of 87.27 million VND; the second phase in 2016 (after the power lines deteriorated) with an amount of 44.63 million VND. The total cost for both phases was 138.8 million VND.

The Inspectorate of Hoang Mai Town has worked with relevant parties to confirm that the number of poles and power lines has been inventoried by the Quynh Luu Land Clearance Compensation Council. A site inspection of the entire route revealed 19 concrete poles of 6.5m height; and 4 strands of A25 type wire, as reported by Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao, ensuring stable operation. Because the number of concrete poles, wooden poles, insulators, and power lines as inventoried is accurate, the Compensation Council's determination of compensation value for relocating the power lines from the land clearance area is in accordance with Government Decree 197/2004/ND-CP on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State recovers land.

Currently, all utility poles and power lines have been relocated, renovated, and are in safe and stable use. Therefore, the Inspectorate of Hoang Mai Town has determined that the citizen's claim that Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao and some related individuals fabricated power line documents totaling 115.083 million VND to share among themselves is unfounded.

We need to be objective and impartial.

Following the report from the People's Committee of Hoang Mai Town, many residents believe that the verification and conclusions of the Hoang Mai Town Inspectorate are not accurate.

On-site inspection revealed that the 0.4kw low-voltage power line running along the road leading to Tan Thang Cement Factory, spanning 1.2km, was built by four households: Mr. Le Tran Trang, Mr. Nguyen Van Chuong, Mr. Van Sy Hoang, and Mr. Le Thac Manh, who invested their own money. During the transfer of the rural power grid system in Quynh Vinh commune to Quynh Luu Power Company, all four households were unaware of the project.

In 2012, when the Land Compensation Council of Quynh Luu District carried out land clearance for the road project leading to Tan Thang Cement Factory, they conducted a detailed inventory of the entire power line system for compensation purposes, but all four households were absent. Instead, Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao, representing the cooperative, was also the head of the household (as shown in the inventory report of the Land Compensation Council of Quynh Luu District dated February 25, 2012).

The inventory and compensation valuation documents concerning the four affected households were not mentioned.

On April 9, 2012, the Land Compensation Council of Quynh Luu District determined the compensation value for the 0.4kW low-voltage power line to be 115.083 million VND. Once again, all four households who had invested in building the power line were not informed. Instead, Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao acted as both the representative of the village's electricity committee and the head of the household to receive the money!

According to the inventory and compensation valuation report of the Land Clearance Compensation Council of Quynh Luu District, all materials for the power line were correctly and fully accounted for in the compensation calculation. However, verification revealed that in 2012, this power line was only relocated by Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao and some workers, and no new investment was made.

Furthermore, because Quỳnh Vinh commune previously had few substations, the power line serving four households in the Đồi Tương economic zone was 1.2 km long with 30 concrete poles. By 2012, Quỳnh Vinh commune had installed many substations; because the substation was nearby, the length of the power line was reduced to just over 600 meters during the relocation process. However, the unused power poles, wires, and accessories were not returned to the four households that had invested in the construction.

In 2015, the power lines to Tuong Hill collapsed, causing a power outage. Four households raised concerns with the commune, but were told they had to report to the Electricity Department. They also received no clear answer regarding compensation for land clearance carried out in 2012; meanwhile, those responsible at the Electricity Department in Hoang Mai Town were also unaware of the issue.

In early 2016, when residents submitted petitions to the commune and town authorities, it wasn't until April 2016 that Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao began rebuilding the power lines. However, upon inspection, only 9 concrete poles and approximately 300 meters of new power lines were installed; along the entire route, many sections still used old power lines with numerous splices and sagging areas…

Investigating the handling of petitions from households on Tuong Hill, it was learned that in early 2016, the People's Committee of Quynh Vinh Commune and the People's Committee of Hoang Mai Town also responded in writing to the households on Tuong Hill regarding compensation for the power line that the Quynh Luu Land Clearance Compensation Council implemented in 2012, stating that doing so was in accordance with regulations (?).

In my opinion, based on the information gathered above, the inspection, verification, and conclusions of the Hoang Mai Town Inspectorate, as stated in report No. 661, are inaccurate and lack objectivity. The issues raised regarding compensation for land clearance by the Quynh Luu Land Clearance Compensation Council for the power line to the Doi Tuong area; the financial management of the 115.083 million VND from 2012 to 2016; and the relocation and construction of the power line in 2012 and 2016 by Mr. Nguyen Huu Thao… have not been clearly and transparently addressed.

Therefore, we request that the Hoang Mai Town Party Committee and People's Committee direct the relevant local agencies to continue investigating and clarifying the matter, provide answers to voters, and report to higher authorities.

Text and photos:Nhat Lan