Proposal to establish a development fund for Western Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - At the discussion session of Group 5 of Nghe An Provincial People's Council, the issue of hydropower continued to receive attention from many delegates.
On the afternoon of December 10, at the group discussion session of the 8th session of the 17th Nghe An Provincial People's Council, Mr. Vi Van Son - Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Cuong district said that in order to help mountainous districts develop, it is necessary to establish a Western Nghe An Development Fund. "This fund will help invest in infrastructure and social development in mountainous areas. In addition to the budget, hydropower plants in the area must be responsible for contributing," said Mr. Son.
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| Delegate Luong Thanh Hai - Head of the Provincial Ethnic Committee spoke at the discussion session of group 5. Photo: Tien Hung |
Also at the discussion session in this group, many delegates mentioned the situation of hydropower plants releasing floodwaters causing damage to the people. Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee said that it is necessary to clarify the responsibility of hydropower plants in this issue. "Recently, 2 hydropower plants in the area, Ban Ve and Khe Bo, supported local people with 5 billion VND. However, that is only support, we want clear responsibility here," said Mr. Hai.
The Secretary of the Tuong Duong District Party Committee also said that in the coming time, there needs to be a solution to control the flood discharge corridor. "Along the two banks of the Lam River, there are many people living there, but currently the flood discharge corridor cannot be managed. Recently, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant has just discharged its capacity, causing serious damage. If it discharges all its allowed capacity, it will be very dangerous. I suggest that ministries and branches need to adjust the flood discharge process and remove from the planning inefficient hydropower plants."
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| Mr. Vi Hoe - Secretary of Ky Son District Party Committee chaired the group discussion session. Photo: Tien Hung |
“Hydropower has three functions. The first is flood control, the second is drought prevention, and then power generation. But currently, the first two functions seem to be ignored, with only the focus on power generation,” the Secretary of the Tuong Duong District Party Committee was upset.
Meanwhile, Mr. Luong Thanh Hai - Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee said that the hydropower projects did not fully assess the damage when designing. In order to save on relocation costs, these projects did not make information public. The affected areas were not accurately assessed after the hydropower plants were put into operation.
In addition, at this group discussion session, delegates also mentioned many issues such as tax arrears; slow implementation of land and forest allocation policies; the situation of workers leaving their hometowns to work far away, especially illegally in China; many urgent relocation projects in the highlands are still unfinished, with capital being invested in small amounts...
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| Ban Ve Hydropower Plant releases floodwaters causing damage. Photo: Tien Hung |
In particular, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hoang - Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son district said that more than 300 households in this district are living in fear because of landslides but do not have capital to resettle. The incident occurred in Muong Ai, Muong Tip communes, and Muong Xen town.
“The landslide occurred during storm number 3 nearly half a year ago, it can be said to be a disaster. Currently, people are having to stay temporarily, if in the coming time, when the rainy season comes, it will be very dangerous,” Mr. Hoang said, adding that the locality has surveyed and set up a resettlement project to submit to agencies and departments, but has not yet received any response.