Mr. Le Ngoc Chau, Vice Chairman of Ha Tinh Provincial People's Committee, has just signed the inspection conclusion related to the management and organization of activities at the Cho Cui Temple National Monument (Xuan Hong Commune, Nghi Xuan District).

Accordingly, Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam, former Chairman of Nghi Xuan District People's Committee, was considered for disciplinary action for organizing a meeting to agree on the allocation of merit money in 2016 without the participation of relevant departments and branches. In 2018 and 2019, Mr. Nam directly signed the decision to collect and pay merit money at the Cho Cui Temple Relic Management Board each year, which was 2.5 billion VND. This is not consistent with the content of the allocation of merit money according to the project of the Provincial People's Committee.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Phuong, former Chairman of Xuan Hong Commune People's Committee, did not closely direct and coordinate well with the relic management board in management work, leading to expansion, violations of planning boundaries, and many kiosks of households being built illegally...

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Inside Cho Cui Temple. Photo: DH

Mr. Tran Vu Quang, Nguyen Long Thien, Dau Dinh Ha - former Head of the Management Board of Cho Cui Temple relic are the people responsible for management and protection, but they did not properly perform their roles and functions, leading to many shortcomings in their activities and many complaints.

In addition, consider the responsibility of organizations such as the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nghi Xuan District People's Committee, Cho Cui Temple Relic Management Board, and Xuan Hong Commune People's Committee for not performing well their roles, functions and tasks, leading to violations at the relic.

Request for review of a series of management agencies

The inspection conclusion shows that Cho Cui Temple is a cultural and spiritual relic owned by the community, not a private place of worship for a household, an individual or a clan. However, for a long time, the families of the "heads of the incense" Mr. Nguyen Sy Q. and Mr. Nguyen Sy H. have owned and managed it.

Although the planning has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee, the local government has not yet placed markers and issued management regulations, so the planning of Cho Cui Temple has not been implemented.

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On the occasion of the New Year, many people come to burn incense at Cho Cui Temple. Photo: DH

Currently, Cho Cui Temple is only using the existing premises before planning. Most of the construction items have not been invested in and built according to the approved planning. The planned land area has not been marked and the local government has not issued planning management regulations, leading to expansion and violations...

On the riverbank outside the entrance to the relic (north of the temple), there are 12 kiosks illegally built by households and operating.

The inspection conclusion shows that the management board of Cho Cui Temple relic did not manage all the workers working at the temple. It did not fully sign labor contracts with members of the inner temple group and the parking lot team; it did not pay salaries and benefits to most of the workers and activities at the relic, but instead assigned the responsibility to the "head of the incense" family and the parking lot team. This is not in accordance with regulations.

Regarding the management and use of financial resources at the Management Board, the administrative accounting regime has not been fully implemented according to regulations.

The People's Committee of Ha Tinh province assigned the People's Committee of Nghi Xuan district to deploy the marking and organize the implementation of the detailed planning of the Cho Cui Temple relic site. Organize the protection of the relic site in accordance with regulations. In addition, preside over and coordinate with relevant units to review the current status of land use at the relic site and handle land violations (if any).

The Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism , Nghi Xuan District People's Committee and related organizations to organize a review according to their authority and clarify responsibilities.

The Department of Construction shall preside over and coordinate with the People's Committee of Nghi Xuan district, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant units to review, advise on planning adjustments and promptly implement the planning of the relic site.

Request to stop the "incense keeper" from possessing and managing

Regarding the management organization at the relic site, Nghi Xuan District People's Committee shall preside over and coordinate with relevant departments and branches to develop and promulgate appropriate and effective management regulations. By the end of January 5, 2024, the assignment of management of the donation money of Cho Cui Temple to the "head of the incense" household will be terminated. Establish a Management Council, conduct daily or weekly inventories and deposit the donation money into the budget.

Regarding the remaining donation amount until December 31, 2022 of the "head of the incense" household, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Provincial People's Committee agreed to reduce more than 1.2 billion VND for 6 months because Cho Cui Temple could not operate. The remaining amount of more than 1.7 billion VND, the "head of the incense" household (Mr. Nguyen Sy Q.) was required to be deposited into the temporary account of the Provincial Inspectorate.

The Provincial People's Committee assigned the Nghi Xuan District People's Committee to recover the amount of money spent on salaries and allowances of the subjects with the amount of 143 million VND, (of which 9,180,000 VND was paid for salary, 133,875,300 VND was paid for concurrent allowance) and the amount of 2018 business trip allowance spent incorrectly according to regulations of 12,000,000 VND. This amount is deposited into the temporary account of the Provincial Inspectorate.

The deadline for paying and recovering the wrong amount of money is within 20 days from the date of issuance of the inspection conclusion.

For the "head temple" families, request to stop occupying and managing the inner temple area of ​​Cho Cui Temple, hand it over to the Management Board of Public Services and Tourist Attractions of Nghi Xuan District no later than January 15.

If the "incense-keeper" families do not hand over within the deadline, the Nghi Xuan District People's Committee will organize the enforcement of the handover and manage the entire Cho Cui Temple relic in accordance with legal regulations.