After flood discharge, the hydropower investor only did charity work, not compensation according to responsibility.
(Baonghean) - "After the flood discharges in 2018, the hydropower investors only provided support as charity, not compensation according to their responsibilities," affirmed the Secretary of the Tuong Duong District Party Committee.
Recently, the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council continued to organize a session to explain the resolution of existing problems and limitations from hydropower projects that the Provincial People's Council had concluded and recommended through the organization of a monitoring delegation, and conducted a questioning session at the previous Provincial People's Council meeting.
RESPONSIBLE AND TIMELY
IN SOLVING PROBLEMS
It can be said that the shortcomings and limitations of hydropower projects in the province have existed for decades and have been repeatedly reported by voters. Although the Provincial People's Council has previously taken many actions to address the voters' concerns, there has been no change.
Until 2018, the Provincial People's Council continued to organize 2 supervision and field surveys in localities, and at the same time included the content of the questioning at the mid-year session (6th session) of the Provincial People's Council and issued Notice No. 175/TB-HDND dated September 5, 2018 of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council on the conclusion of the questioning content.
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| It is necessary to review and rebuild flood discharge corridors of hydropower projects to ensure safety for people living near the projects. Photo: Mai Hoa |
After the announcement No. 175/TB-HDND, the Provincial People's Committee took action to direct departments, branches, localities, and investors to implement a series of issues related to ensuring dam safety, reservoir operation procedures, flood discharge procedures as well as resolving existing problems regarding compensation, resettlement, and land for production... The Provincial People's Committee also issued a written report proposing to the Prime Minister, ministries, and central branches on the policy to resolve the existing problems from the Ban Ve Hydropower Project. Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung gave specific instructions on resolving the long-standing problems and obstacles in the Ban Ve Hydropower Project in Announcement No. 143/TB-VPCP dated April 13, 2019 based on the province's proposal.
Regarding the reservoir operation process, the Government also directed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to coordinate with relevant ministries, branches and Nghe An province, investors of hydropower projects to study and adjust and is currently implementing. For each conclusion content of each project in Notice No. 175/TB-HDND, localities also coordinated with investors to implement.
Up to this point, the allocation of additional land to households lacking land (currently 17 households) has been basically completed and the procedures for granting land use right certificates to resettled people of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant in Thanh Chuong have been completed; funding has been provided to invest in equipment for community cultural houses and build waste treatment areas at 13 resettlement sites of Hua Na Hydropower Plant; additional investment in some items, such as toilets, water tanks, community houses of Khe Bo Hydropower Project... However, the progress of basic settlement is still too slow and the amount of settlement is not much.
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| The provincial working group surveyed the shortcomings after the Ban Ve hydropower project in Tuong Duong. Photo: Mai Hoa |
At the explanation session of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council held on April 25, 2019, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Hoang Van Tam acknowledged this delay. For example, the 8 existing issues of the Ban Ve hydropower project have not been completed to date, although there are some contents that require a final resolution in 2018, such as building 3 production routes for people in the Thanh Chuong resettlement area; completing the relocation of households out of the reservoir area; completing the allocation of additional land to villages and households that are lacking compared to regulations. For the Hua Na hydropower project, only 1/6 of the contents have been completed; the Khe Bo hydropower project has 3 contents that are all being implemented.
The reason for the delay, according to the Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, is mainly due to problems with policy mechanisms due to having to wait for opinions from the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (the competent agency of the 3 hydropower projects Ban Ve, Khe Bo, Hua Na) related to compensation policies on flood levels for affected people; additional investment capital for some arising works and items...
"During the implementation process, some members of the compensation and site clearance council in the districts changed and the three investors did not actively coordinate with the authorities to implement the plan."
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| The construction of the resettlement area for the Ban Ve hydropower project in Tuong Duong district is still inadequate. Photo: Mai Hoa |
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Secretary of Tuong Duong District Party Committee, the main reason for the long-standing problems and limitations is that investors are irresponsible, slow to fulfill their commitments, and leave promises unfulfilled. Mr. Hai cited the repair of degraded houses for resettled people, with repeated promises but still not repaired for the people. Or the implementation of compensation for site clearance of a gas kiosk of a household in Tam Thai commune, although this household has stopped doing business for 7 years, but has not yet been compensated. The investment in flood-avoiding roads on National Highway 7, although there have been many meetings, promising to complete in the fourth quarter of 2018, then extending to the first quarter of 2019, has not yet been completed.
The Secretary of the Tuong Duong District Party Committee further emphasized that every year, the Provincial People's Committee approves flood and storm prevention plans for hydropower projects; including the condition that after flood discharge, investors must proactively coordinate with localities to review, inspect, count damages and compensate according to current regulations.
"After the flood discharges in 2018, hydropower investors only provided support as if doing charity, not compensation according to their responsibilities."
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| Many households still live along the Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir. Photo: Archive |
ENHANCED FORECASTING,
PROACTIVE FLOOD RECEIVING AND DISCHARGE
The general spirit at the recent explanation session of the Provincial People's Council Standing Committee was to resolutely urge and assign specific responsibilities to investors of hydropower projects in resolving existing problems and limitations in hydropower projects. Regarding the 8 existing problems and limitations of the Ban Ve Hydropower Project concluded by the Provincial People's Council Standing Committee, the advantage is that 7 contents have been directly directed by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung in Notice No. 143/TB-VPC (except for compensation for land on flood elevations that has not been answered); the issue now is to focus on implementing the Government's direction.
Regarding the existing problems of Hua Na Hydropower Plant, there are suggestions that the investor should make a recommendation to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to apply Notice No. 143/TB-VPC to resolve similar problems and difficulties in this project.
Not only paying attention to thoroughly resolving existing problems and obstacles in compensation for site clearance and resettlement, many opinions expressed concern at the explanation session about the need for a "fundamental" solution for hydropower projects. Due to the current unpredictable climate change and weather conditions, the risk of insecurity for people living near reservoirs and downstream areas is very high when hydropower projects discharge floodwaters. Therefore, what the Provincial People's Committee and sectors, localities and investors need to pay attention to is reviewing and rebuilding flood discharge corridors for hydropower projects; at the same time, urging the completion of approval of inter-reservoir operating procedures to manage and minimize risks brought about by hydropower projects, protecting people's lives.
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| Ban Ve Hydropower Plant releases floodwaters. Photo: Archive |
On the other hand, investors need to pay attention to dredging the reservoir bed to avoid sedimentation (currently, the Khe Bo hydropower reservoir bed has a large amount of sedimentation but has not been dredged); if this task is not carried out, the Provincial People's Committee also needs to resolutely recommend the Ministry of Industry and Trade not to allow water storage or force the flood level to be lowered below the permitted level. At the same time, investors also need to study and overcome shortcomings in reservoir operation and enhance forecasting capabilities and take proactive measures to receive and discharge floods.
Obviously, the goal of investing in developing hydropower projects is for the common benefit of the nation, ensuring energy security; however, besides the national interest, the safety of people's lives is put first, so that hydropower projects are invested properly and safely, creating an environment for socio-economic development.
