The contractor is about to dump soil that will cover people's houses.

Waste soil and rocks are being dumped directly onto people's homes.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Hoang Thi Thu, born in 1968, residing in Tong Phai village, Duong Quy commune, Van Ban district, Lao Cai province, expressed her indignation: "Recently, Tu Lap Co., Ltd. has been constructing and dumping excavated soil to level the land next to my house. From being in the same low-lying area, their house is now higher, while mine has sunk deep into a pit. Every time it rains, the water has nowhere to drain."

The piles of waste earth and rocks are so large they resemble hills, threatening to collapse, and they threaten Ms. Hoang Thi Thu's house.

Outraged, Ms. Thu went to the Duong Quy Commune People's Committee many times to complain, and finally met with a land management official. This official then came to the site and requested the contractor, Tu Lap Co., Ltd., to stop construction and not dump waste soil there.

Upon observing the situation on the ground, reporters noticed that not only had construction waste piled up into "mountains of earth" above residents' houses, but when the contractor dumped waste, soil and rocks rolled down onto Ms. Thu's house, causing cracks in the walls and damage to the foundation. Furthermore, the construction unit even dumped waste onto the villagers' fields and drainage ditches, causing resentment among the residents.

Ms. Nguyen Thi H., whose house is near Duong Quy Primary School, said: "The unit's vehicles run all day, spreading dirt everywhere, and combined with rainwater, it makes the road muddy. They dig and fill all day long, seriously affecting our lives. We don't know when the road will be finished."

The district is "shifting" the responsibility to Committee 2.

Faced with the difficulties experienced by the people of Duong Quy commune, the reporter contacted Mr. Ha Manh Thang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Duong Quy commune, to report these issues. Mr. Thang received the information and promised to consider it. A few days later, the reporter tried various ways to contact Mr. Thang to understand the commune's directives, but Mr. Thang avoided the reporter in every way.

Waste soil and rocks are dumped "directly" in low-lying areas.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Viet, Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Van Ban District, said: "This road is basically built on the foundation of the old road, National Highway 279. The total length of the route passing through Van Ban District is about 64 km. Currently, some sections are still unfinished due to obstacles related to forest land and land clearance. Because the project did not approve funding for a waste disposal site, the local authorities had to 'facilitate' the Project Management Board 2 ( Ministry of Transport ) to negotiate with households to calculate waste disposal costs (?!). Regarding the impact on people's lives such as dust and sludge pollution, the district leaders have already reminded them in meetings with Board 2. Now, regarding cases like Ms. Thu's, the district has not yet received a report from the People's Committee of Duong Quy Commune. Please contact Board 2 and the contractor for more information."

The road was only dug up to lay the foundation, so it was difficult and slippery to travel on.

The reporter then contacted Mr. Hai, Deputy Director of the Project Management Board (Board 2) for the section passing through Van Ban district. Mr. Hai then sent Mr. Le Quoc Quan to record some of the issues raised by the reporter and promised to promptly remind the contractor to resolve the problems in Duong Quy commune so that the people can soon have a stable life.

"
The project to connect the northern mountainous provinces includes two routes. Route 1: Connecting Lai Chau with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway, approximately 147km long. Route 2: Connecting Nghia Lo, Yen Bai with the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway, over 51km long. Both routes have a total investment of approximately 5,340 billion VND.

The Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper will continue to provide updates.

Source