The Provincial People's Committee has agreed to adjust the price of clean water.

On the afternoon of September 21st, under the chairmanship of Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial People's Committee held its regular monthly meeting for September 2018. Attending the meeting were the Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People's Committee; and representatives of the leaders of provincial departments and agencies. Photo: Thanh Le

At the meeting, the Department of Finance presented the draft Decision on regulating the selling price of clean water products in urban areas produced and supplied by Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company in the province, replacing Decisions No. 37/2016/QD-UBND dated May 13, 2016 and No. 42/2016/QD-UBND dated June 31, 2016 of the Provincial People's Committee.

Accordingly, the projected average price for clean water consumption this time is 10,600 VND/m³.³compared to the current price of 8,600 VND/m³, an increase of 23.67%. The average price in Vinh City and its surrounding areas is expected to be 11,200 VND/m².³compared to the current price of 8,800 VND/m³, an increase of 27.49%, and the average price for the remaining regions is expected to be 8,000 VND/m².³compared to the current price of 7,600 VND/m³, an increase of 5%.

Colonel Nguyen Huu Cau - Director of the Provincial Police, speaks at the working session. Photo: Thanh Le.

Regarding this issue, Colonel Nguyen Huu Cau, Director of the Provincial Police, expressed his concerns about the higher price of raw water in the province compared to other localities. According to the head of the provincial police, the prices of electricity, gasoline, and water are directly related to people's lives, therefore the Department of Finance needs to make specific calculations.

According to the Department of Finance, the reason for the high price of raw water is that the province has a raw water supply plant. Meanwhile, the water pipeline system of Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company has been invested in for decades, leading to significant losses and leakage (28%).

"The water price adjustment proposed by the Department of Finance this time has fully calculated depreciation costs, labor norms, and ensured maintenance and investment costs to reduce losses and improve water quality," affirmed Nguyen Xuan Hai, Director of the Department of Finance, adding that the adjusted water price is below the framework allowed by the Ministry of Finance and lower than the average price in some neighboring localities.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa speaks at the working session. Photo: Thanh Le

In conclusion, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee agreed with the proposed water price adjustment by the Department of Finance; and simultaneously requested the Nghe An Water Supply Joint Stock Company to implement technological improvements, invest in equipment to overcome incidents, upgrade the pipeline system, and improve the quality of water supply to best serve the needs of the projected increase in clean water demand during the 2025-2030 period, as it will not only serve the daily lives of the people but also the industrial zones.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong instructed the Department of Finance to take the lead in coordinating with relevant departments and agencies to work with the Nghe An Water Supply Company and the Song Lam Water Plant to agree on the most reasonable price for raw water for the people, ensuring a balance of interests between businesses and the people. Along with that, it is necessary to do a good job of publicizing the need for people to understand that adjusting water prices is essential.

At this meeting, the Provincial People's Committee also unanimously approved the draft Decision amending and supplementing Article 2 of Decision No. 19/2018/QD-UBND dated April 18, 2018, of the Provincial People's Committee on amending and supplementing Articles 2 and 3 in the decisions promulgating the land price list for the period from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, in the districts, towns, and Vinh City, Nghe An province.

Also at this afternoon's meeting, the Provincial People's Committee listened to and commented on the report on foreign affairs work in the first nine months of the year and the direction and tasks for the remaining months of 2018.

Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs Tran Khanh Thuc reports on foreign affairs work during the first nine months of 2018. Photo: Thanh Le

Accordingly, in the first nine months of the year, the province focused on tasks such as: vigorously implementing Resolution 06 of the 12th Central Committee Conference on improving the effectiveness of the international economic integration process. The Provincial People's Committee continued to advise the Provincial Party Standing Committee on implementing Party foreign affairs activities according to the direction of the Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Department. Focusing on further strengthening Party foreign relations with provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, especially Xieng Khouang province and other provinces sharing a common border.

Regarding the tasks for the remaining months of the year, the Provincial People's Committee will continue to review and effectively implement the Nghe An province's foreign affairs program for 2018 to complete it.