Concerns arise over spontaneous growths along the coastal dike.

Numerous bumps dot the surface of the dike, and bunkers lie at the foot of the dike.

In early April 2024, a reporter from Giao Thong Newspaper traveled along the nearly ten-kilometer-long coastal dike road through the communes of Hai Chinh, Hai Trieu, and Hai Hoa (Hai Hau district) and observed that the road surface was constantly bumpy, with raised sections of about 20-30cm, making it very difficult for vehicles to pass.

People face difficulties navigating the makeshift ramps that have sprung up across the road surface of the Hai Hau coastal dike in Nam Dinh province.

Along the outer embankment bordering the sea, there are nearly a hundred pillboxes made of unburnt bricks, each about 4-5 square meters in size, with roofs made of corrugated iron or cement. Inside these pillboxes, specialized water pumps are installed.

These pumps are connected to rigid plastic pipes with a diameter of about 11-14cm; one end of the pipe extends down to the sea, and the other end is placed over the sea dike and led into the aquaculture ponds of local people.

Video: Trucks drive over raised platforms illegally constructed by residents on the sea dike in Hai Hau, Nam Dinh.

These rigid plastic pipes are laid across the sea dike, and locals use materials such as concrete mortar, crushed stone, and base stone to bury them, creating artificial bumps on the dike surface that pose a significant danger to road users.

"In some sections, there's a makeshift bump every 3-4 meters. When riding a motorbike, you have to slow down, then gradually accelerate to get over these bumps. If you're not careful, especially at night, it's very easy to fall," shared Mr. Trung, a local resident.

Shrimp farming area in Hai Trieu commune, Hai Hau district.

Confused about how to handle the situation.

Speaking with a reporter from Giao Thong Newspaper, Mr. Tran Minh Phuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Trieu commune, said that the commune has a 3.7km long sea dike. The area inside the dike used to be a salt field, but now the people have switched from salt production to high-tech shrimp farming.

Currently, there are over 300 households in Hai Trieu commune engaged in industrial shrimp farming. Due to the need for seawater to support shrimp farming, residents have arbitrarily installed water pipes through the embankment.

Illegal construction of bunkers on the embankment poses a safety risk to the Hai Hau sea dike.

According to Mr. Phuong, the commune has canals and rivers that supply water to the shrimp farming area, but they do not meet the needs of shrimp farming. Because the supply and drainage rivers are one, waste from shrimp feed and chemicals flows into the river over many years, causing pollution. Therefore, people have to choose the solution of building underground tanks near the sea to filter seawater into the ponds.

"This is precisely what causes unsafe conditions for dikes and traffic safety for people traveling on the coastal dike road. Especially during the rainy and stormy season, when rescue and transportation are needed on the dike, it will be very difficult and inconvenient," Mr. Phuong acknowledged.

Mr. Phuong stated that the commune had repeatedly collaborated with the District's Dike Management Unit to document this violation. They had also raised the issue with higher authorities, but so far there has been no definitive solution.

Locals have installed a dense network of water pipes across the embankment, making the surface uneven and posing a safety hazard to road users.

Mr. Mai Duc Nghia, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Hoa commune, said that the spontaneous placement of water pipes on the dike by local people has been going on for a long time, and the functional agencies of the district and Nam Dinh province have also surveyed and inspected it.

"The commune has issued warnings, recorded violations, and even dismantled the equipment, but after it's removed, people just reinstall it. To date, there is no definitive solution to this problem because the need for clean water for shrimp farming is essential for the people," Mr. Nghia said.

Locals have installed water pipes across the coastal dike road in Hai Hoa commune.

Mr. Nguyen Van Viet, Head of the Dike Management Unit of Hai Hau District, also stated that the unauthorized construction of bunkers on the dike slopes and the installation of water pipes across the dike to channel water for aquaculture by local residents are affecting the dike system under the unit's management.

"The Hai Hau District Dike Management Unit has coordinated with local authorities in the communes to draw up reports. In some cases, administrative penalties have been imposed and corrective measures have been ordered, but not completely. After receiving feedback, we will hold a meeting with the People's Committee of the coastal communes to discuss how to address the situation," Mr. Viet said.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/bat-an-voi-cac-go-tu-phat-tren-tuyen-de-bien-192240406180338734.htm