Nghe An province dialogues with people affected by WHA Industrial Park project

On the afternoon of January 15, at the headquarters of the People's Committee of Nghi Thuan commune (Nghi Loc), the People's Committee of Nghe An province organized a dialogue and responded to petitions of households in Nghi Thuan commune related to compensation, site clearance and some difficulties in the implementation of the WHA Industrial Zone 1 - Nghe An Project (WHA Industrial Park) Nghe An.

The dialogue was chaired by Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Le Tien Tri - Head of the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone; Nguyen Tien Dung - Chairman of the Nghi Loc District People's Committee. Attending were representatives of the following sectors: Public Security, Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Propaganda Department, WHA Industrial Zone Nghe An Joint Stock Company. Photo: PB

Motivational Project

The WHA Hemaraj 1 Industrial Park Project - Nghe An (hereinafter referred to as the "Project") by WHA Industrial Zone Nghe An Joint Stock Company was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 681/QD-TTg dated May 22, 2017; the project was later renamed the WHA Industrial Zone 1 - Nghe An Project. On July 24, 2017, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Decision No. 3309/QD-UBND on approving the detailed planning at a scale of 1/500 of the 148-hectare industrial park sub-project under the WHA Hemaraj 1 - Nghe An Industrial Park Construction Investment Project.

Accordingly, the project has a scale of 143.49 hectares, including 54.83 hectares in Nghi Long commune and 88.66 hectares in Nghi Thuan; affecting 1,197 households with agricultural land and 1,302 graves. Currently, there are 21 households that have not signed the documents and received the money; including 12 households in Nghi Long commune and 5 households in hamlets 5 and 6, Nghi Thuan commune, whose land has been recovered by the District People's Committee and the site has been handed over to the investor, the remaining 4 households in hamlet 4 with a total area of ​​4,998 m²Agricultural land has not been handed over. In addition, 364 graves have not been relocated.

WHA Industrial Zone 1 - Nghe An Project (WHA Industrial Park). Photo courtesy

Currently, the project is carrying out the construction of the following items: Leveling the ground, traffic roads, drainage system, wastewater treatment area; The total capital implemented up to this point is about 585 billion VND, including the land acquisition cost that the investor has advanced to the province is 252.35 billion VND; Currently, 4 projects have been registered for implementation, 1 project has been put into operation. Regarding the progress of compensation and site clearance, up to now, Nghi Loc District People's Committee has reclaimed land with a total area of ​​141.08 ha/143.49 ha of the project (reaching 98.3%); with a total amount of over 307 billion VND; the remaining 2.41 ha have not been handed over the site.

Up to now, WHA Industrial Zone Joint Stock Company has employed a total of 115 workers in Nghi Loc district, mainly from Nghi Thuan and Nghi Long communes. It is expected that in 2020, the company will recruit 29 more workers, with priority given to Nghi Long and Nghi Thuan communes. When the Industrial Zone is formed, it will attract secondary investors to operate, creating more job opportunities for local people. It is expected that in 2021 it will be 1,000 people; in 2022 it will be 3,000 people and by 2025 it will be 5,000 people.

During the project implementation, the following problems still exist: people from hamlets 1 to 6 request the State to retain the old 520m long residential road; 4 households in hamlet 4, Nghi Thuan commune request support equal to 5 times the land price; 16 households request compensation for the area used for roads and concrete ditches that were previously agricultural land allocated under Directive 02.

Mr. Pham Van Dan, resident of Hamlet 5, Nghi Thuan Commune, proposed that the State preserve the road for the people. Photo: PB

In addition, 6 households with agricultural land located in the replacement canal planning have not agreed with the compensation and support plan; requesting the State to compensate with land (for land) located along the N5 route; There is 0.4 ha of agricultural land that the Provincial People's Committee granted a land use right certificate to Nhan Hoa Parish but the Parish people have not agreed to sign the compensation and support documents because the compensation and support level of the State is still low.

Hope people agree

At the dialogue, many people expressed their opinion that the large area of ​​agricultural land being reclaimed would affect people's lives, especially jobs. People asked the State to create conditions for people to find jobs, especially the elderly.

People also requested that the State should retain Long Thuan canal. In fact, when the project was implemented, it filled up the canal, causing flooding of fields, houses, and schools, greatly affecting people's lives. People also requested that the project retain the old route from N5 road to the starting point of residential areas from hamlets 1 to 6.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung - Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee responded to people's opinions. Photo: PB

At the dialogue, representatives of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and Nghi Loc District Police responded to people's opinions.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung - Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee said that the compensation price of the following year is higher than the previous year according to regulations, according to the development process of society. Regarding the canal, the District People's Committee continues to record, accept, and urgently coordinate to inspect and ensure the supply and drainage of water in residential areas. Regarding Long Thuan canal, we hope that people will agree to land acquisition, if necessary, build a drainage pumping station to promptly drain water, and study to firmly embank the sections passing through residential areas.

“Regarding land acquisition, there are currently only a few households that have not agreed, the percentage is very small. It is difficult for people to request land for land exchange, because the agricultural land fund is very limited, only meeting the needs of a few households. Regarding the relocation of graves in the cemetery, people should relocate them when they have the conditions, and people still take care of graves that cannot be relocated as usual,” said Mr. Dung.

At the end of the dialogue, Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed that the residential road will be kept for the people, and at the same time, upgraded with concrete, ensuring the most convenient travel for the people. Tomorrow (January 16), the province will pour crushed stone and compact it to make it convenient for people to travel during the Lunar New Year. By February 10, 2020, the road will be closed to traffic so that the investor can construct items including sewers and drainage systems, and after completion, the road will be restored to its original state.

Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee hopes that people will support and agree so that the project can be implemented on schedule. Photo: Pham Bang

“The province is very grateful to the people for creating conditions for the project to be implemented and when the project is completed, it will create jobs for the people and create a budget source for the province. The province will plan to support the construction of welfare works for Nghi Thuan commune such as a stadium, kindergarten, a 900m long canal, roads, and clean water pipeline connections for the people,” said comrade Le Ngoc Hoa, adding that he hopes that the people will support and agree with the State and businesses so that the project can be implemented on schedule.