Avoid arguing in resolving consequences from hydropower projects

The monitoring delegation learns about the operating process of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant. Photo: Minh Chi

Before working with the District People's Committee, in the morning, the working delegation of the Provincial People's Council directly supervised the operation and power generation process at Ban Ve Hydropower Plant; supervised the actual Khe O resettlement area, Yen Na commune of the Ban Ve Hydropower Project; landslides affecting people's houses and some traffic routes due to water storage from Nam Non Hydropower Plant.

Based on direct supervision and receiving opinions and recommendations from voters and Tuong Duong district through various channels, at the meeting, members of the supervision delegation of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council raised many shortcomings, requesting Tuong Duong district and investors of the hydropower project to clarify.

Most noteworthy is the implementation of compensation and resettlement policies, ensuring livelihoods for resettled people, mobilizing 10 households living in the reservoir that have not yet been relocated to the resettlement area and households in resettlement areas to return to their localities.

Mr. Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee, Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council chaired the meeting. Photo: Minh Chi

It is also a solution to the problem in Xop Chao village, when implementing the Ban Ve hydropower project, flooding was not considered, but when the water was stored, this village was flooded. People had to evacuate to 4 locations, causing difficulties for administrative management because traveling between locations had to be done by boat. Up to now, the investor has not provided support or built infrastructure to concentrate people in 1 location.

In addition, the plan to relocate 34 households at high risk of landslides due to water accumulation from the Nam Non hydropower plant and to handle some subsidence roads... was also mentioned by the working group.

Explaining and clarifying many issues of concern to the monitoring delegation, Secretary of the District Party Committee Pham Trong Hoang said that investors need to be more responsible in resolving existing problems and difficulties related to hydropower projects, avoiding disputes that affect the stable and long-term lives of the people.

Secretary of the District Party Committee Pham Trong Hoang affirmed that the investor of Nam Non hydropower plant has not been responsible in resolving the consequences of the project's operations. Photo: Minh Chi

Concluding the meeting, Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council Le Hong Vinh shared the difficulties and hardships of the entire political system from district to commune in compensation and site clearance in the initial stages of project implementation and in resolving the consequences during the operation of hydropower projects.

Affirming that the existing problems arising from hydropower projects are due to the fact that the initial stages of survey, research and implementation have not accurately and comprehensively calculated and assessed the factors arising during the implementation and operation process; therefore, Mr. Le Hong Vinh said that it is necessary to unify the viewpoint of investors and districts to have the same responsibility to coordinate to resolve the shortcomings and ensure social security.

The delegation inspected some resettlement houses that were built but not used at Khe O resettlement area, Yen Na commune, part of the Ban Ve hydropower project. Photo: Minh Chi

Regarding the 34 households affected by the Nam Non project, Head of the monitoring delegation Le Hong Vinh requested the district and the investor to coordinate to have a plan for handling and relocation. The district needs to review these 34 households, from which to prepare land for resettlement. The investor needs to clearly define responsibilities in implementing relocation, resettlement and other infrastructure.

Along with the above issue, Head of the delegation Le Hong Vinh requested that investors strictly follow the procedures for flood discharge, bottom discharge, and water regulation from hydropower projects and that the district needs to strengthen supervision of these activities.

Since the Nam Non hydropower project started storing water, the houses of some households in La village, Luong Minh commune are at high risk of landslides. Photo: Minh Chi

Regarding provincial departments and branches, Head of the delegation Le Hong Vinh suggested that they should take action to resolve existing difficulties and problems as well as strengthen State management and provide local guidance on the operation of hydropower projects, ensuring compliance with regulations and procedures...

In Tuong Duong, there are 5 hydropower projects that have been and are being implemented. Although not a district with a large number of projects in the province, the hydropower projects in the area have a large capacity, total recovered area and number of resettled households. The total number of households that have to be relocated and resettled is up to more than 3,500 households and the lost rice area is about 50/814 hectares of the whole district.