The Urgent Need to Expedite the Project: Why the $1.8 Billion Venture Deserves a Swift Execution

The Tả Nghèn Dyke project, an urgent undertaking with an investment of over VND 180 billion to combat natural disasters, floods, saltwater intrusion, and protect the lives and properties of thousands of households, has been left incomplete for years, causing anxiety among the local population. They fear the potential of flooding and saltwater intrusion as the rainy season approaches.

The People’s Committee of Lộc Hà District and relevant authorities have identified challenges and obstacles, as well as the reasons why a 700-meter section of the dyke within the district’s jurisdiction remains unfinished.

Mr. Trần Phi Long, Head of the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction in Lộc Hà District, stated that the remaining 700-meter section of the dyke cannot be constructed due to land compensation issues with four households engaged in aquaculture within the dyke’s vicinity.

“While the households agree with the land retrieval for project implementation, they aspire for support regarding the assets they have invested in the land. Provincial leaders and departments have conducted multiple inspections and discussions, but a definitive solution is yet to be reached due to the absence of appropriate support policies for these households,” Mr. Long explained.

In a report to the competent authorities, Mr. Nguyễn Văn An, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lộc Hà District, pointed out that the challenges in site clearance for dyke construction lie not only with the people but also with the former People’s Committee of Thạch Bằng Commune (now Lộc Hà Town) and the People’s Committee of Thạch Châu Commune, who mismanaged land use and leased land beyond their authority.

Despite the district’s instructions for these two localities to promptly notify the affected households to cease production, refrain from implementing new items, and hand over the land to the project, they have not complied with these directives.

The leadership of the People’s Committee of Lộc Hà District also acknowledged the challenges faced by the households engaged in aquaculture, who have invested significantly in land reclamation, dyke reinforcement, construction of breeding houses, and installation of high-tech equipment, with this endeavor serving as their primary source of income. Therefore, land retrieval should be accompanied by appropriate regulations and support.

“The Site Clearance and Support Council has inventoried and assessed the assets and machinery on the land of the affected households, with the estimated impact exceeding VND 11 billion. However, due to the lack of a basis for compensation and support, this has not been implemented. The district has also requested relevant departments to advise the provincial People’s Committee to permit the locality to apply asset support for the affected households within the scope of site clearance to expedite land handover for project continuation and completion,” informed the leader of the People’s Committee of Lộc Hà District.

People are anxious as the urgent project remains unfinished.

Previously, Tiền Phong newspaper reported on the prolonged construction of the Urgent Treatment of the Tả Nghèn Dyke project, specifically the section passing through Lộc Hà District, Hà Tĩnh Province. This project, with a total length of over 10 kilometers, was approved by the Hà Tĩnh provincial People’s Committee in September 2021, with the Lộc Hà District People’s Committee as the investor and a capital of over VND 182 billion.

As observed, a 700-meter section of the dyke in Lộc Hà Town, Lộc Hà District, remains unfinished and disjointed. For almost a year, the contractor has halted construction, and no machinery or workforce is present at the site. Local residents shared that the dyke’s incomplete construction impedes transportation and poses risks to their lives and properties during the rainy season.