Nghe An Provincial Party Committee requests no further research or survey of hydropower projects

Nghe An Provincial Party Committee has just issued Notice No. 85-TB/TU ofStanding Committee of Provincial Party Committeeon the policy of implementing hydropower projects in Nghe An province.

Full text of Notice No. 85-TB/TU is as follows:

At the meeting on November 26, 2020, after listeningParty Committee of Provincial People's CommitteeReporting on the overall work of planning, planning management, construction investment, operation and exploitation of hydropower projects in the province (Report No. 198-BC/BCS, dated November 25, 2020), the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee requested the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee to lead the Provincial People's Committee to well implement the following contents:

A small hydropower project under construction has an impact on natural forests in the province. Photo: Nhat Lan

1. Strengthen the management of planning, investment in construction, operation and exploitation of hydropower projects in accordance with the procedures and regulations of the law. Continue to strictly implement Notice No. 11-TB/TU dated November 4, 2015 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on the policy of building hydropower plants in the province (with a copy of the Notice attached).

- No research or survey to supplement new planninghydroelectric projectin the province (including projects under survey: Nam Pong 2, Ban Coc B, Ban Ba, Ca Nan 3, My Ly - Xieng Duoc, Ha Dong Van, Hua Na A, Yen Thang, Song Hieu, Tam Son, Hanh Dich).

Nghe An Newspaper article on survey of Thong Thu hydropower project. Photo: Nhat Lan

- Speed ​​up the completion of hydropower projects under construction (including projects: Ban Mong, Suoi Choang, Nam Giai, Chau Thon) and the implementation progress of the Project "Investigation and assessment of negative impacts of the hydropower system in Nghe An on the environment and propose solutions to minimize impacts".

- Focus on directing timely and decisive resolution of existing problems and difficulties related to compensation, support and resettlement of Ban Ve and Hua Na hydropower projects and a number of other hydropower projects in the area.

- Strictly manage projects in operation. Focus on inspection and supervision of safety assurance and operation of hydropower reservoirs to ensure the lives and property of people in downstream areas.

- Review the operating procedures of hydroelectric reservoirs to consider recommending competent authorities to adjust the operating procedures appropriately during flood and dry seasons to minimize negative impacts on the environment and people's lives, ensure absolute safety for the project and harmonize the interests of water users.

Nghe An Newspaper article on survey of Yen Thang hydropower project. Photo: Nhat Lan

2. For the 3 hydropower projects Chau Thon, Ban Canh and Song Quang 1: Agree on the policy of researching, updating, supplementing and adjusting the planning to serve the completion of ensuring compliance with regulations, but not increasing the installed capacity or increasing the land use area.

3. Agree on the policy of researching, surveying, and comprehensively assessing the impact of the exploitation plan of hydropower projects on irrigation lakes (ensuring the environment, people's lives and production, construction safety, economic efficiency, etc.), and report to the Provincial Party Standing Committee.

Nghe An Newspaper article on the issue of surveying and supplementing new planning for small hydropower plants. Photo: Nhat Lan

After Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued Notice No. 85-TB/TU dated January 5, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 35/UBND-CN on implementing the direction of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on the policy of implementing hydropower projects in the province to the Departments of Industry and Trade, Natural Resources and Environment, Construction, Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development; People's Committees of the districts: Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Que Phong, Con Cuong, Quy Chau, Anh Son.

In Official Dispatch No. 35/UBND-CN, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Departments and People's Committees of the above districts to seriously implement the direction of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee. At the same time, the Department of Industry and Trade was assigned to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments, branches and units to advise the Provincial People's Committee to implement the contents requested by the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee.