The land donation movement for road construction in Trung Ha

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - After the implementation of the two-tiered local government system, most merged communes have been somewhat sluggish in carrying out the tasks of building new rural areas, while Trung Ha commune in the highlands has implemented a fairly effective movement of donating land to open roads.

Officials in Trung Ha commune are mobilizing residents to donate land and dismantle structures to expand the road. Photo: Ha Cang

Donating land to build roads - opening up a future of development.

From July 1, 2025, Trung Ha commune will be established by merging the communes of Trung Tien, Trung Ha, and Trung Xuan, formerly part of the border district of Quan Son. After the new commune government takes operation, the locality will continue to implement Directive No. 24-CT/TU dated July 12, 2024, of the Standing Committee of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee on "The campaign to encourage people to donate land for investment in the renovation, upgrading, and beautification of infrastructure, focusing on transportation roads in rural and urban areas of the province in a synchronized and modern direction."

At the same time, two rural road projects were being implemented in the commune, so the commune was simultaneously carrying out land clearance and mobilizing people to donate land for expansion. The commune implemented various forms of propaganda, with commune officials going down to the grassroots to directly persuade people. Officials in the villages also actively participated, working alongside the people, explaining to the people the role of the expanded roads in socio-economic development, bringing benefits to the people themselves and future generations.

Mr. Ha Cong Bang, a resident of Ba village, said: "After the government's campaign and explanation, we clearly understood the benefits of these major roads for socio-economic development. Initially, some households were hesitant, but then everyone agreed. In Ba village, the land donation campaign has truly become a movement. Now that these major roads are under construction, we see the future development of our homeland and each family right there on these projects."

Along with the government's investment in transportation infrastructure, the people have generously donated land, contributing portions of their family's land to expand transportation routes, making the roads in the commune longer and wider. A prime example is the two projects to renovate, upgrade, and expand the road from Ba village to Xanh village and the internal road within Lang village. The entire political system in the commune has participated. Through diverse and effective methods of propaganda and mobilization, many households voluntarily donated land and assets on their land to expand the roads. Laborers from the villages through which the projects passed were mobilized to cut down trees, demolish fences, and dismantle structures, creating a vibrant movement. From just a few households initially, the movement in Lang village spread to dozens of households in each village, eventually reaching many other villages in the commune.

The fruits of promoting democracy, openness, and transparency.

Statistics from the People's Committee of Trung Ha commune show that from mid-July 2025 to the present, nearly 200 households in the commune have voluntarily donated approximately 5,000 square meters of land and many assets on the land to renovate, upgrade, and expand roads. Although the local residents are mostly Thai ethnic people, and their lives are still difficult with income mainly based on agricultural production, the spirit of dedication to the common task of building new rural areas in the locality remains very high. Many households in the commune donated from 50 to over 100 square meters of land and dozens of trees. After voluntarily donating land, the households also spent their own money to renovate and repair their houses and fences.

Thanks to land donations, the local authorities and relevant units have expanded roads with a total length of over 1.7km. The main road has been widened to 9m, with 4.5m of the road surface paved with solid concrete, and the remainder being sidewalks and drainage ditches. In addition, local people have planted flowers and ornamental trees along both sides of the newly expanded roads. In Ba and Xanh villages, people also voluntarily demolished corrugated iron roofs and fences, and moved trees to expand a 3.5km road. As a result, the road surface has been raised to 8m, with the 4.5m road surface paved with asphalt.

"The key to the success of land donation campaigns for road construction in Trung Ha is the local government's commitment to democracy. All project information is made public and transparent; the local authorities organize meetings with residents, listening to their opinions, concerns, and aspirations. For households that have not yet agreed, the government, in coordination with the Party branch and influential community leaders, actively persuades and explains the situation to the people," shared Mr. Lu Van Ha, Chairman of the People's Committee of Trung Ha commune.

Before the merger into the new commune, the leaders of the former Trung Ha commune directly attended meetings with the Party branches of the villages to identify each road that needed widening, develop solutions, and closely monitor the area to understand the thoughts and aspirations of the people, persuading them to trust and cooperate. At the same time, they went "door to door" to publicize the purpose, significance, and practical benefits of road widening. This served as the foundation for the successful land donation campaign for road widening in the new Trung Ha commune.

From 2021 to the present, with flexible approaches, the people of Trung Ha commune have donated over 2 hectares of land of various types, approximately 15,000 trees of various kinds, along with many valuable structures, fences, roofs, and other architectural elements attached to the land to expand rural roads.

Linh Truong - Ha Cang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phong-trao-hien-dat-mo-duong-o-trung-ha-260394.htm