Quang Nam provincial authorities proposed to the Minister of Industry and Trade that further work on the management of Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant was needed when he came to visit the location on October 19.
Many people still have not been relocated
Dinh Van Thu, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam People's Committee, asked for more frequent inspections from Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN). He suggested that they should monitor and check for seepage two or three times a day during normal weather, and more often in bad weather.
In addition, the authorities of Bac Tra My District and Quang Nam People's Committee would like to receive the results of those tests to assess the dam's condition after each earthquake.
A comprehensive safety inspection should be done annually, instead of once every ten years, which is currently stipulated under Government regulations, he added.
Local authorities also asked for co-operation in raising people's awareness on flood prevention in the downstream areas and for flood maps to be designed for areas potentially affected by flood discharge from the plant.
Thu said the biggest concern among people at the moment is relocation.
For 22 hydropower projects that were and are being done in the province, 1,700 households must be relocated, with 1,000 households near Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant, 330 households near A Vuong Plant and 229 households near Siing Bung 4 Plant.
However, despite the fact that some hydropower plants are already operational, people in those areas have not been relocated and are affected by issues such as a lack of clean water or farm lands. Many households near Song Tranh 2 continue to suffer from the effects of earthquakes.
Tran Van Hai, head of the project management unit of Song Tranh 2, said that damage inspection will be completed by November 15 and that they will compensate those affected.
The chairman of Quang Nam People's Committee proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade appoint an official agency to handle public relations for the Song Tranh 2 case. Numerous and varied assessments from different agencies and scientists have caused confusion among the people.
Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Industry and Trade, said he will work with EVN to solve problems that are not just specific to Song Tranh 2, but also in other hydropower plants in Quang Nam.
"The people have given their land for Government projects and we have a responsibility to make sure that they are well served," he said.
Hoang further said that since the safety of Song Trang 2's dam remains uncertain, the Government will not allow the further storage of water while the monitoring process is ongoing. He added that the proposals from Quang Nam are under consideration.
Minister of Industry and Trade (left) visits the site
