When will the people of Va Thanh escape the fear of rolling stones?

The province's approval of the investment project to relocate residents out of areas with dangerous natural disasters, landslides, and rolling rocks is a joy and a long-standing dream of households in Va Thang village, Tung Chung Pho commune (Muong Khuong). However, to move to a new safe place, people still have to wait, living in fear of rolling rocks because the project is behind schedule.

Households in Va Thang village are still in the danger zone of falling rocks.

Concern and worry were clearly visible on the face of the village chief Va Thang Thao Seo Pao. He shared: The rainy season has now begun - the season that the villagers fear the most, because every year, whenever there is heavy rain, large rocks on the mountainside can roll down at any time. Previously, the whole village had 53 households in the danger zone, now there are only 41 households because 12 households in the more dangerous area have been partially supported by the commune and borrowed money to move their houses to ensure safety. In 2023, the project to relocate residents out of the danger zone was implemented, and the villagers were very happy. However, the slow implementation of the project has made the villagers restless.

Hundreds of rocks rolled down from the high mountain behind Va Thanh residential area.

A large rock rolled down close to the house.

The project to invest in the project of relocating and arranging residents out of the dangerous natural disaster area, landslides, and rockfalls in Va Thang village was assigned by the Provincial People's Committee to the Muong Khuong District People's Committee to approve the design and estimate and assign the District Construction Investment Project Management Board as the investor. The project will be implemented from November 2023, with a construction period of 360 days.

At the construction site of the Va Thang village residential resettlement project, there are only 2 excavators and 1 car in operation.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Vuong Su Ngoc, Vice Chairman of Tung Chung Pho Commune People's Committee, said: Initially, the project implementation encountered difficulties due to site clearance. It was not until March 2023 that the construction unit could level the site, affecting the construction progress.

Not only is the site difficult, the project is also having difficulty finding a dumping site for leveling, because the new dumping site for leveled soil and rock in front of the Tung Chung Pho Commune People's Committee has not been cleared and approved for dumping.

According to Mr. Trieu Van Hai, a technical officer of Son Dong Company (the project's construction unit), if there is no dumping site, it is likely that from the beginning of June 2024, the construction of the site will continue to have to stop and wait.

According to the approved design, the project to relocate and arrange residents out of the dangerous natural disaster, landslide, and rockfall areas of Va Thang village is a level IV, group C technical infrastructure project, with the following items: leveling 4 plots of land, building 2 roads, drainage system, water supply system, electricity supply system, building a cultural house and other auxiliary works; total estimated value of 20 billion VND.

The project was contracted for construction within 360 days, and is expected to be completed and handed over by November 2024 so that residents can move to their new homes. However, with the current slow progress of site leveling and many obstacles, the construction time may be extended.

To make room for the residential area, this entire hill must be leveled. However, after 6 months of construction, only one corner of the hill has been leveled.

Mr. Bui Si Ngoc, Director of the Muong Khuong District Construction Investment Project Management Board, said that the Board will try to complete site clearance soon to speed up progress.

The entire project site has been completed.

Va Thang residents are still waiting for the project to be completed every day, because this is the only way for them to move to a safe place to live, ensuring a stable life. Hopefully, in the coming time, the investor and the contractor will resolutely implement many solutions to complete the project items, helping the people soon escape the fear of rolling rocks day and night.

Source