Many problems

The North-South Expressway construction project in the East, phase 2021-2025, through Quang Binh province, started on January 1, 2023, with 3 component projects (Vung Ang-Bung; Bung-Van Ninh; Van Ninh-Cam Lo) with a total length of 126.79km; total investment of VND 24,282.71 billion. When the project was implemented, 3,117 households were affected, of which 580 households were subject to resettlement; more than 3,410 graves were affected, of which 2,742 graves had to be relocated. In addition, the project also affected many technical infrastructure works and social infrastructure works... The total cost for site clearance work is VND 4,432.454 billion.

According to the assessment of investors and construction units, the reason why localities have not been able to hand over construction sites is mainly due to compensation, support for site clearance; relocation of works and technical infrastructure; slow construction of resettlement areas and cemeteries...

Mr. Pham Tuan Cuong, GPMB officer of Project Management Board 6, Ministry of Transport (investor of 2 component projects Vung Ang-Bung, Bung-Van Ninh) said: "In the past, local authorities have made great efforts, but the slow and discontinuous handover of the site has affected the construction progress. Although the contractors have mobilized a large number of vehicles and human resources, there are many sections of the route that have not yet been handed over the site, including some "bottlenecks" such as the section through Quang Son commune, Ba Don town; Quang Chau Youth Establishment Village (Quang Trach district)... which has affected the construction plan on the entire route".

Corporation 36 ( Ministry of National Defense ) is constructing at Cu Nam intersection (Bo Trach district), package XL-01, Bung-Van Ninh component project. Photo: ANH TUAN

CIENCO4 Group Joint Stock Company constructs K-frame bridge (Huu Nghi sub-area, Viet Trung Farm town, Bo Trach district), package XL-01, Bung-Van Ninh component project. Photo: MINH TU

While the two component projects Vung Ang-Bung and Bung-Van Ninh pass through 5 districts, towns and cities, the Van Ninh-Cam Lo component project invested by the Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board, Ministry of Transport, is almost entirely located in Le Thuy district with a length of more than 32km; therefore, the amount of work to be implemented is huge. This is also the reason why the locality has not been able to hand over 100% of the cleared land to the investor. Currently, the site clearance work still faces some difficulties, such as: On the sections of the route that are being re-measured, some households still have construction works on the route; the construction of the resettlement area has not been completed. "With the same length, in Quang Tri province, the component project runs through 3 districts, while in Quang Binh it only spans Le Thuy district. Therefore, the pressure on compensation and site clearance for the Party Committee and authorities here is very large. In fact, the locality has tried very hard, when completing site clearance for a section of the route, it is immediately handed over to the construction units. Therefore, it is inevitable that the construction site along the entire route is cut off and interspersed, this is also a common situation in many localities across the country when implementing the Project", Mr. Chu Van Long, Deputy Head of Project Department 4, Ho Chi Minh Road Project Management Board shared.

Resolutely speed up progress

At the meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Project held on May 11, chaired by Mr. Tran Thang, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee, the progress of implementation, especially compensation and site clearance work, was reviewed and evaluated. The conference assessed that in the past time, departments, branches, units, especially localities, have implemented compensation, support and resettlement work to ensure the set progress. However, in reality, the handover of the site was not continuous, there were many problems that affected the construction of contractors; the relocation of infrastructure and technical works, the construction of resettlement areas and cemeteries were slow and did not ensure progress. "Time is very urgent, while there is still a lot of work to do, to ensure the progress of handing over 100% of the clean site to the investor before June 30 as required by the Government, requires leadership, direction, and implementation, drastic and urgent, with synchronous solutions from departments, branches, sectors, units, especially localities. Chairmen of People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities are responsible to the Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for completing the compensation, support, and resettlement work of the project on schedule in the management area", Mr. Tran Thang emphasized.

Trung Chinh Trading and Construction Company Limited constructs Long Dai Bridge, Package XL-02, Bung-Van Ninh Component Project. Photo: Anh Tuan

Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, localities and units continued to participate with the highest spirit and effort: As of May 19, localities have completed the field measurement of 126.79km/126.79km (100%). The District-level Land Acquisition Council has counted assets on land within the area of ​​125.98km/126.79km (99.36%). The District-level People's Committee has issued 109 decisions approving compensation, support, resettlement and payment plans worth 645.66 billion VND with an area of ​​847.62ha/1,155.7ha (73.34%) and a length of 103.16km/126.79km. The length of the routes handed over to the investor is 89.09km/126.79km (70.27%)...

Trung Chinh Trading and Construction Company Limited constructs Long Dai Bridge, Package XL-02, Bung-Van Ninh Component Project. Photo: ANH TUAN

Regarding compensation and site clearance work through Quang Son commune, Ba Don town, the local government has basically untied the "bottleneck". Previously, 254 households in Quang Son commune did not agree with the compensation price frame for affected agricultural land. They said that, on the same unit of agricultural land area, the investment cost, crop yield, and annual income of Quang Son commune are equivalent to or higher than Quang Hoa commune and Quang Minh commune. Meanwhile, the cost of compensation, training support, job conversion, and job search for households and individuals directly involved in agricultural production for people whose land is recovered is 75,000 VND/ m2 lower than neighboring communes. To ensure fairness for the people of Quang Son commune, the People's Committee of Ba Don town has sent a document requesting the People's Committee of Quang Binh province to decide on a support level of 75,000 VND/ m2 for the following types of land: specialized in wet rice cultivation, remaining wet rice cultivation land, and flat land for annual crop cultivation.

Up to now, the People's Committee of Quang Binh province has issued 7 decisions to change the purpose of use with a total forest area of ​​437.25 hectares. At the same time, it has approved detailed planning for 26/26 resettlement areas; of which 1 resettlement area has been under construction; 3 resettlement areas have had their projects approved. The People's Committees at the district level have arranged 13 areas with an area of ​​57.09 hectares for 2,742 graves to be relocated in 11 communes. Currently, localities and units are urgently implementing the progress of approving, relocating, and returning technical infrastructure works and social infrastructure; at the same time, focusing on promoting propaganda and mobilizing people to comply with compensation, support, and resettlement policies to complete compensation and site clearance for the remaining area of ​​the project...

TRAN MINH TU