Closing the old residential road crossing WHA Industrial Park in Nghi Thuan Commune (Nghi Loc) is necessary.

On the morning of May 20, at the headquarters of Nghi Thuan Commune People's Committee, Nghi Loc District People's Committee held a dialogue conference with the people of Binh Thuan hamlet, about the policy of closing and straightening the road connecting from National Highway 7C to Khanh Thien hamlet, Nghi Thuan commune, crossing WHA Industrial Zone 1, Nghe An.

Conference scene. Photo: PV

The dialogue was chaired by representatives of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board, Nghi Loc district and Nghi Thuan commune.

People came to participate in the dialogue at Nghi Thuan commune headquarters on the morning of May 20. Photo: PV

Legal factors

Regarding the closure of the residential road running from National Highway 7C (formerly N5) connecting to the beginning of Hamlet 2 and running to Hamlet 6 (now the hamlets of Khanh Thien, Binh Thuan, Ru Than) in Nghi Thuan commune (Nghi Loc), implementing Official Dispatch No. 341/UBND-CN dated January 14, 2022 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on considering the proposal to close the residential road section cutting through WHA Industrial Zone 1 Nghe An (WHA) phase 1, in Nghi Thuan commune.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Diep - Vice Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee spoke at the conference. Photo: PV

People participate in the dialogue. Photo: PV

On January 17, 2022, Nghi Loc District People's Committee issued Notice No. 33/TB-UBND on closing the old residential road to hand over the site to investors to implement the project.

However, after receiving the Notice of the District People's Committee, some households in Binh Thuan hamlet did not agree to close the road and sent petitions to all levels and sectors and requested the Provincial People's Committee to withdraw Notice No. 33/TB-UBND of Nghi Loc District People's Committee.

On January 27, 2022, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Document No. 67/UBND-TD on transferring the petition and assigning it to the People's Committee of Nghi Loc district to consider, handle and respond to people's petitions.

People speak at the dialogue.

Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Notice No. 128/TB-UBND dated February 24, 2022 on announcing the conclusion of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa at the working session to resolve a number of problems related to the road connecting from National Highway 7C to Binh Thuan hamlet crossing WHA Industrial Zone 1 - Nghe An.

On March 9, 2022, the District People's Committee issued Document No. 499/UBND-KTHT in response to the petitions of households in Binh Thuan hamlet, Nghi Thuan commune regarding the closure of the residential road crossing through WHA Industrial Park Phase 1 in Nghi Thuan commune.

On March 30, 2022, the People's Committee of Nghe An province met and agreed to issue Conclusion Notice No. 277/TB-UBND dated April 4, 2022 announcing the Conclusion of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung at the working session to resolve a number of problems related to the road connecting National Highway 7C to Binh Thuan hamlet, Nghi Thuan commune, crossing WHA Industrial Zone 1 - Nghe An and assigned specific responsibilities to the People's Committee of Nghi Loc district. In particular, the People's Committee of Nghi Loc district was assigned to publicly announce the use of a new road to replace the old trail crossing in WHA Industrial Zone that is not in accordance with the planning.

On April 8, 2022, the District People's Committee continued to issue Notice No. 240/TB-UBND on the implementation of the above notice contents.

On the left is the old residential road, on the right is the new replacement road. Photo: PV

The old residential road from National Highway 7C to Hamlet 2 (old) has degraded. Photo: PV

Closing the old residential road is in accordance with regulations and planning.

The WHA Hemaraj 1 Industrial Park Project (now WHA Industrial Zone 1 Project - Nghe An) was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 681/QD-TTg dated May 22, 2017, approved the adjustment of the investment policy in Decision No. 360/QD-TTg dated March 15, 2021; was granted Investment Registration Certificate No. 6536650686 by the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board on May 29, 2017 (certified for the 4th change on March 23, 2021) and was established as an industrial park by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 2879/QD-UBND dated August 10, 2021.

The total area of ​​the WHA Project is 498 hectares, phase 1 is 143.5 hectares. According to the assessment of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board, the planning process for the WHA Industrial Zone 1 - Nghe An Project phase 1 (143.5 hectares) has been fully implemented and in accordance with the law.

According to the content of the Phase 1 Planning Project, the WHA Industrial Zone 1 - Nghe An Project has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee, it is necessary to remove the existing residential trail (about 520m long and about 3.5m wide) running across the industrial park to serve the synchronous connection between the land lots for factory construction and the land lots for drainage construction. At the same time, in order not to affect the traffic of the people, the project has planned a replacement route outside the industrial park, with the starting point adjacent to National Highway 7C (about 37m from the starting point of the old route to the West), continuing to follow the western boundary of the industrial park, reconnecting with the current residential road north of the industrial park. The total length of the replacement route is about 740m (about 220m longer than the old residential road).

Panorama of WHA Industrial Park and the traffic system in the area. Photo: PV

WHA Industrial Zone Nghe An Joint Stock Company, Dong Nam Economic Zone Management Board, Nghi Loc District People's Committee have also issued documents recommending and announcing the closure of the old residential road to hand over to investors for project implementation. In Notice No. 33 issued by Nghi Loc District People's Committee on January 17, 2022, sent to Nghi Thuan Commune People's Committee, it stated: "Nghi Thuan Commune People's Committee informs people and vehicle owners of the plan to close the old residential road and guides them to follow the new residential road that will replace the old road above. Closely coordinate with relevant organizations, authorities and investors to develop an implementation plan. Organize neighborhood meetings, announce the policy, and propagate to people about the plan to close the old residential road to serve the construction of the WHA investor's project phase 1".

Thus, the legal basis for clearing the old residential road is complete, from planning, investment certification, to land handover and leasing.

Previously, since the end of 2019, WHA Industrial Zone Nghe An Joint Stock Company has also spent money to complete the construction of the above replacement residential road with a road surface width of 6.5m made of reinforced concrete, 1.0m wide sidewalks on each side, with street lights, trees and regular environmental sanitation to ensure safety, cleanliness and beauty for local people to travel.

Although a new replacement route has been put into use, because some people have not agreed, the old route through WHA Industrial Park has not been demolished to build the technical infrastructure system according to the plan. This greatly affects the project.

In response to concerns, questions and recommendations from some residents, on March 9, 2022, Nghi Loc District People's Committee issued Document No. 499 in response to households in Binh Thuan hamlet regarding the closure of the residential road crossing the WHA Industrial Park, clearly explaining that the closure of the old residential road is in accordance with the planning and does not affect people's travel; at the same time, requesting households to seriously implement the policies of the Party and State in attracting investment, creating conditions for socio-economic development, and creating jobs for the locality and surrounding areas.

The old residential road cutting across WHA Industrial Park has degraded. Photo: PV

People traveling on the new residential road. Photo: PV

At the Conference, the Management Board of Dong Nam Economic Zone and the Nghi Loc district government explained and clarified issues related to the planning of the WHA Industrial Park Project, the planning of new residential roads and the closure of old residential roads; explained the State's policies in attracting investment, developing the socio-economy, and improving the lives of local people.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hai - Deputy Head of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board spoke at the conference. Photo: PV

Regarding the people's petition that the new road will replace the old road with many dangerous curves for people and vehicles, the People's Committee of Nghe An province and Nghi Loc district have requested the WHA Project Management Board to adjust and straighten the road to ensure safety. Regarding the opinions that the new road will go over the old cemetery, affecting the psychology of the people, the leaders of Nghi Loc district affirmed that this is not true. The old Nhan Hoa cemetery has been excavated to ensure the requirements of technical infrastructure, environment and beliefs for the people.

In addition, to meet the wishes of the people of Nghi Thuan commune for upgrading and renovating the inter-hamlet road from hamlet 2 to hamlet 6 (now Khanh Thien, Binh Thuan and Ru Than hamlets), on April 20, 2022, Nghi Loc District People's Committee started construction and upgrading of the traffic road from hamlet 2 to hamlet 6 (section through Binh Thuan parish church), Nghi Thuan commune.

The project is designed and constructed with a length of nearly 2 km, a 7.5 m wide roadbed; a 5.5 m wide cement concrete road surface. The road surface structure is renewed and expanded. The section passing through the residential area is designed with reinforced concrete closed trenches on both sides of the route. The project has a total investment of 22 billion VND. Currently, the contractor is speeding up the progress, striving to hand over and put into use by the end of this year.

People of Binh Thuan hamlet speak at the dialogue. Photo: PV

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thuc, a resident of Binh Thuan hamlet, spoke at the dialogue. Photo: PV

At the dialogue session, there were more than 20 opinions and recommendations from the people of Binh Thuan hamlet. Most of the opinions suggested keeping the old residential road.

However, the conference chairman affirmed that closing the old residential road from National Highway 7C to Khanh Thien hamlet is necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the law, in accordance with the planning of the WHA Industrial Park Project in particular and the overall planning of Nghi Loc district in general. In particular, the old residential road is currently degraded, if traffic continues on this road, it will not ensure safety for traffic participants.