Weak resettlement plan for hydropower projects badly affect residents

Local residents in Nghe An Province is complaining about the poorly-built resettlement areas and stagnant hydropower projects which are causing many difficulties.

Local residents in Nghe An Province is complaining about the poorly-built resettlement areas and stagnant hydropower projects which are causing many difficulties.

Weak resettlement plan for hydropower projects badly affect residents

The report by Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade shows that the province has 32 hydropower projects with a total capacity of 1,359 MW. 13 projects have been completed and put into use, two are in the trial period, nine are under construction and eight have only been approved. However, there are many shortcomings.

Ban Ve Hydropower Plant joined the national grid in 2009 but after 13 years, three out of 43 roads from the fields to the resettlement areas in Thanh Chuong District haven't been completed. Many people left the resettlement areas to return to live near the reservoirs as the allocated houses deteriorated too quickly.

Local residents in Nghe An also complained and abandoned the resettlement areas they were relocated to when Hua Na Hydropower Plant was being built. The water systems in the residential area have broken while the new agricultural land is not fertile enough.

In 2011, the teams of My Ly and Nam Mo 1 hydropower projects surveyed Ca River in Ky Son District. Hundreds of households in the area were given the notice to be ready for relocation but since then, nothing has been done and many have to live in poverty.

Kha Thi But in My Ly Commune said, "We've waited but there is no construction. We don't dare to repair our houses even when the roof leaks. Most people left the village. If you're not going to build anything then please, let us live in peace."

During a meeting session with Nghe An People's Council, a deputy from Con Cuong District reported the huge amount of complaints submitted about hydropower projects. Deputy Nguyen Thanh Hoang from Ky Son District said the district had 10 projects of which three had gone into operation. They will need to relocate 500 households with 4,000 people in order to start My Ly project.

Hoang Van Tam, director of Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade, said, "We already submitted the ground clearance plan to the provincial people's committee but it hasn't been approved yet. The construction can't be started as the ground clearance and resettlement plans are going to be reconsidered carefully to avoid problems like in Hua Na and Ban Ve cases."

He went on to say that contractors would have to speed up the process but everything depends on the provincial authorities.