Canh Tang Reservoir Project: Over budget, behind schedule due to the fault of the locality

On the morning of March 29, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep had a meeting with Hoa Binh province to discuss solutions to overcome difficulties and obstacles in implementing the Compensation, Support and Resettlement Component of Canh Tang Reservoir project (Hoa Binh province).

According to Lac Son District People's Committee, the review results show that the total investment to complete the compensation and resettlement component of the project is VND 1,533 billion (an increase of VND 474 billion compared to the original approved plan). The reason is due to the cost of afforestation, construction costs increase. The inundation landmarks of the lake bed do not fully represent the flooded area and affected properties. Therefore, it is necessary to review additional measurements, increase the volume of ground clearance and increase the budget for site clearance...

According to the report, the total land acquisition and clearance area for project implementation are 897.4 hectares (down more than 340 hectares compared to the approved plan). The total number of households and individuals affected by the construction of the works is 596 households. Of which 574 households had to relocate to new places of residence, the remaining 22 households resettled themselves.

Regarding housing compensation, up to now, the compensation plan for house clearance has been approved for 574 households in Yen Phu, Van Nghia, Binh Alle communes and is currently paying compensation to households. However, the locality still does not have the funds to pay for 106 households (VND 25.1 billion).

At some resettlement sites, many households have finished building their houses. But, because the items of rainwater drainage, wastewater drainage, and concrete pavement have not been constructed yet, the households have not been able to move to stay.

In addition, many households have houses and assets located within the construction area of the flood avoidance route (this is the main road leading to the construction of resettlement sites) due to the lack of space to build houses at resettlement sites, so they can't move right away.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized that Canh Tang Reservoir project has a total investment capital of more than VND 3,118 billion. The construction component (VND 890 billion) is invested by Irrigation Construction Investment Management Board 1 ('Board 1'). The site clearance component is more than VND 1,100 billion funded by Hoa Binh province. The water channel component of more than VND 1,100 billion, the Provincial People's Council of Hoa Binh province commits to invest when the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development completes the construction of the reservoir...

The main project construction component that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development directly directed Board 1 to be the investor has been completed, and there is not much construction remaining. But the problem is that we can't block the flow. We can't store water because we haven't cleared the surface of the lake bed.

"Consultants are very problematic. Because when clearing the site, the consultant must know what to do first and what to do later. However, the two roads leading to the resettlement area did not work first but instead made the resettlement area. How can people live here?", Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep said.

Regarding the local responsibilities in implementing the Compensation and Resettlement Component of the Canh Tang reservoir project, Mr. Bui Van Khanh - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee of Hoa Binh province, admitted: "This is the fault of the locality. ".

The project has been implemented for four years, and the volume of construction and installation has been completed 70%, but the construction and site clearance does not go balanced.

Through preliminary analysis of the cause, in the end, it was because the consulting unit determined the number of families to move, the number of land assets to be compensated was incorrect at first, leading to an increase in the amount of compensation compared to the initial project approval. Regarding allocating additional capital to implement Canh Tang reservoir project's site clearance and resettlement component, the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province will report to the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister for consideration and direction.