People are being asked to pay compensation to the Khe Bo hydropower plant.

On the afternoon of October 8th, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hien, a member of the Provincial Party Committee and Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province, held a meeting with voters in Yen Thang commune, Tuong Duong district. Also present were representatives from provincial departments and agencies, and leaders of Tuong Duong district. Photo: Dao Tuan

We request that Khe Bo Hydropower Plant promptly develop a compensation plan.

At the conference, voters in Yen Thang commune raised and proposed many issues, such as requesting the National Assembly, the Government, and central and local ministries and agencies to pay attention to and urge the Khe Bo hydropower plant to promptly pay all compensation for damages to affected families in Pung and Canh Tang villages.

Voters believe that this issue has dragged on for too long, affecting people's daily lives. They also demand that the Khe Bo Hydropower Plant stop making payments in small installments as before and instead make a single payment to avoid disagreements and confusion during the payment process.

Voter Vi Van Min from Luom village, Yen Thang commune, speaks at the conference. Photo by Dao Tuan.

According to a report from the People's Committee of Yen Thang commune, after the Khe Bo Hydropower Compensation and Resettlement Council conducted a field survey on the situation of households affected by flooding and at risk of flooding due to the hydropower plant's operations, the plant agreed on a compensation plan for 12 households in Pung and Canh Tang villages; however, to date, the residents have not received any assistance.

Voters also stated that currently, 18 households in Canh Tang village have lost their agricultural land due to the operation of the hydroelectric plant but have not received any support, and many other households have not been compensated according to regulations.

Khe Bo hydroelectric power plant releases floodwaters. (Photo: Archival image)

At the conference, people also requested that the National Assembly implement policies to support forest protection efforts, as the current funding for forest protection under the forest environmental services program is too low. Also related to this policy, for a long time, only poor households involved in forest protection have received rice support, while other households have not.

Voters in Yen Thang commune also proposed that relevant authorities invest in transportation infrastructure, schools, and the power grid; implement appropriate policies to reduce poverty among ethnic minorities in mountainous areas; develop employment policies for ethnic minority students after graduation; improve the allowances and benefits for part-time officials at the commune and village levels; and allocate funds to build a new office for the Party Committee and People's Committee of Yen Thang commune.

At the conference, representatives from several relevant units directly explained and clarified the issues raised by the voters.

The ultimate goal is to ensure the rights of the people.

In his concluding remarks at the conference, National Assembly representative Nguyen Thanh Hien acknowledged the opinions and feedback from voters, and stated that the Party, the National Assembly, and the State are very concerned about the lives of people in mountainous areas.

The comprehensive socio-economic development programs and projects for mountainous regions over the past period have demonstrated this.

Regarding the safety of the power grid infrastructure in the area, the Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation stated that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has already issued a document responding to and proposing solutions to address the electricity needs of remote, disadvantaged, and difficult-to-access areas.

The Electricity Corporation has assigned the Northern Power Corporation to survey the entire power grid system in specific areas in order to quickly find solutions for supplying electricity and serving the people.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hien answers some questions raised by voters in Yen Thang commune. Photo: Dao Tuan.

Regarding the issues arising from the flood discharge activities of the Khe Bo Hydropower Plant, along with the explanation from the representative of the Department of Industry and Trade, delegate Nguyen Thanh Hien also stated that, concerning the issue of hydropower plants discharging floodwaters, the provincial leadership has paid attention and coordinated with project owners to ensure the best possible arrangements for the local people.

The Provincial National Assembly Delegation will soon hold a working session with the Electricity Corporation and project owners to ensure the rights of the people are protected, and this is the highest priority.

The National Assembly delegation will fully consider the issues raised by the people and relay them to the National Assembly, the Government, and relevant agencies and units.

Yen Thang commune has a natural area of ​​7,743.09 hectares; a population of 3,393 people living in 8 villages, of which the Thai ethnic minority accounts for over 99.5%; the current poverty rate in the commune is over 49%. Currently, Yen Thang commune has completed 8 out of 19 criteria for new rural development, with one village having achieved all 19 criteria. (Illustrative image: Google Maps)