Billion-Dollar Relocation Sites Left in Oblivion

The Hoc Xa – Dong Lon resettlement area (TĐC) in Tinh Hoa, Quang Ngai City, was built in 1997 by the Management Board of Dung Quat Economic Zone. The area was intended to provide relocation for households from the East of Binh Son District, making way for projects within the Economic Zone.

With an area of over 13 hectares and a total investment of over VND 11 billion, the project included the construction of essential infrastructure such as electricity, roads, cultural houses, schools, and medical stations. All structures were built to be solid and spacious.

As planned, the project was designed to accommodate 120 resettled households and provide land for 40 other households in Tinh Hoa to expand.

Upon completion, the resettlement area was once hailed by the locals as a “dream city” and a “luxurious TDC.” However, contrary to these high expectations, not a single household has moved to the area since its completion. For over 20 years, the area has been left untouched, with its vast land and synchronized infrastructure lying idle and wasted.

Over time, the public facilities have fallen into disrepair, with serious deterioration. The roofs have been blown away by the wind, the walls are stained, and weeds have taken over both the indoor and outdoor spaces. The area has become a dumping ground for local waste and a grazing ground for cattle.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Nghia, Secretary of the Party Cell of Trung Vinh Village (Tinh Hoa Commune), shared that some households from Binh Son District had come to inspect the area but never returned.

The locals, who rely on agriculture for their livelihood, find the land here unsuitable for farming due to its hilly terrain, aridity, and lack of water and arable land.

Similarly, in Tinh Long Commune, there are also 105 vacant lots in two other resettlement areas, Cay Sen (82 lots) and Ruong Ngo (23 lots), that have been abandoned for over a decade. These areas were built in 2013 by the Management Board of Transport Project Construction Investment Projects of Quang Ngai Province to accommodate households affected by the Duong Ven Bien Dung Quat – Sa Huynh road project. However, after the resettlement, the remaining land has been left unused.

Addressing the Issue: Time and Customized Mechanisms Needed

Speaking about this issue, Mr. Tra Thanh Danh, Chairman of Quang Ngai City People’s Committee, acknowledged that each resettlement area has unique challenges and requires time and tailored mechanisms for resolution.

Specifically, regarding the Hoc Xa – Dong Lon resettlement area in Tinh Hoa, there were challenges in taking over the management of the area from Son Tinh District in 2014 due to the merger of Tinh Hoa into Quang Ngai City. The city authorities had to conduct a thorough review of the files and the current situation. However, the relevant documents were not adequately prepared, and around 12 items constructed in the area were already damaged.

“The city’s policy is to upgrade, repair, or rebuild these structures to meet the socio-economic development needs of the local people,” said Mr. Danh. “However, according to legal regulations, we cannot implement this plan yet due to the lack of previous construction documents. Therefore, the local authorities must carefully study and seek the opinions of competent authorities before repairing and upgrading this resettlement area.”

Concerning the two resettlement areas in Tinh Long, the Quang Ngai City People’s Committee has not received the handover of these projects from the investors. Despite repeated requests and directives from the provincial authorities, the investors have not completed the necessary procedures to transfer the management of these areas to the city. Consequently, the city cannot allocate funds for maintenance, repair, or the construction of public utility works to serve the people.