Early funding to relocate households

(Baonghean) - Although the Cham Bay reservoir project in Tien Phong commune, Que Phong district has been completed, 10 households have not yet been relocated out of the reservoir area, making their lives difficult...

Being present at the Cham Bay reservoir project in Tien Phong commune on a day at the end of November, witnessing the lives of people in the reservoir area, we can see the danger when the houses and gardens of households are only 4-5m from the lake surface. Ms. Vi Thi Hoa, Muong Hin village said: Houses and the entire road for a long time are now located in the reservoir area, making us isolated from the outside. If we want to go out, there is no other way but to climb up the embankment to go.

Even healthy people are afraid of the slope, let alone the elderly and children. In the recent rains, the lake water rose, and my chicken coop and pig pen were flooded. Therefore, if we do not relocate, when the flood comes, no one knows what will happen. Mr. Luong Van Bay, who lives in the same village, was upset: For the benefit of the project, my family agreed to clear some areas of ponds, trees, buffalo and cow pens to hand over the site, preparing for relocation. However, up to now, although the project has been completed, there has been no compensation for relocation. We have made many requests, but have not received a response from the District People's Committee, so we do not know how long we will have to live like this?

With no road, people in the reservoir area have to climb the reservoir embankment to get out.

It is known that the project to repair and upgrade Cham Bay reservoir, Tien Phong commune, Que Phong district was approved by the Provincial People's Committee under Decision No. 5110/QD.UBND-NN, dated October 28, 2010 with an initial total investment of VND 9,730,000,000, the project was invested by Que Phong district People's Committee. It was then adjusted and supplemented to VND 17,256,000,000. The project had to relocate 12 households with nearly 60 people, but currently only 4 households (Luong Van Xuyen, Lo Van Quoc, Lo Van Lieu and Lo Van Dung) received compensation, some households received but not enough. Therefore, currently only 2 households have been relocated, that is Mr. Luong Van Xuyen and Lo Van Dung.

Talking to us, Mr. Ho Quoc Phong - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Que Phong district said: According to the initially approved project of 9,730,000,000 VND, the district only provisionally estimated the compensation for site clearance at 500 million VND, but when implemented, it was nearly 2 billion. Therefore, the district has submitted a request to the Provincial People's Committee to adjust the project estimate and the Provincial People's Committee has approved the decision, the district is waiting for funding to proceed with the relocation of the remaining households.

It is thought that stabilizing the lives of households in the Cham Bay reservoir area is a matter of concern at present, so on the basis of approving the adjustment of the total investment, the Provincial People's Committee needs to promptly allocate funds for Que Phong district to relocate the remaining households. However, it is also necessary to clarify the responsibilities of all levels, sectors and units in the initial project site clearance budget estimate which is too low compared to the reality that needs to be adjusted. From the estimate of 500 million VND, it increased to 1,985 million VND, meaning that it must be adjusted 4 times higher than the original estimate. This makes many people wonder: Is it possible that, in order for the project to repair and upgrade the Cham Bay reservoir to be easily approved, the investor and consultant deliberately "forgot" the issue of compensation for site clearance of households?

Quang An