What can we see from the 4 sea dike projects funded by the Central Government in Binh Thuan province?

BTO-The Department of Construction of Binh Thuan has just issued the Conclusion of the inspection of the implementation of legal regulations on investment activities in the construction of 4 sea dike projects. These are urgent projects to overcome coastal erosion and the investment policy has been approved by the Prime Minister. However, through the inspection of investment activities in construction, bidding, design, construction, and settlement of payments for the 4 projects, the Department of Construction discovered many errors, including a section of the dike being built in the wrong location.

Urgent projects

These 4 sea dike projects were approved with a total investment of 180 billion VND, including: Coastal erosion control embankment in Ham Tien ward, Phan Thiet city 40 billion VND; coastal erosion control embankment in residential area 5, Duc Long ward and Tien Duc village, Tien Thanh commune, Phan Thiet city 30 billion VND; residential area protection embankment in Phuoc Loc ward, La Gi town 50 billion VND and coastal erosion control embankment in residential area 12, 13, 14, Lien Huong town, Tuy Phong district 60 billion VND. These projects are all invested by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Coastal embankment to prevent landslides in Ham Tien ward (photo: N. Lan)

These are urgent projects to overcome coastal erosion, protect people's lives and property, protect public works, and at the same time contribute to proactively responding to climate change, preventing and mitigating natural disasters. Thereby, it also contributes to completing the system of works, synchronously combining with the existing technical infrastructure system, protecting the aquaculture land area of ​​the people. Particularly for the project of Coastal Erosion Prevention in Wards 12, 13 and 14, Lien Huong Town, Tuy Phong District, in addition to building an anti-erosion embankment, it also combines dredging to clear the channel of the Lien Huong River mouth area, ensuring safety and convenience for fishing vessels to enter the fishing logistics area and storm shelter area.

Coastal embankment project to prevent landslides in Ham Tien ward (photo: N. Lan)

According to the Department of Construction, the Department has inspected and verified the 4 above-mentioned projects in 8 areas, showing that the investment procedures for construction of the works were basically implemented in accordance with regulations, ensuring the content, procedures and authority. The units performing project management, survey consultancy, project preparation, design, cost estimation, supervision and construction contractors are legal entities and have the capacity to practice according to regulations. The actual inspection of the works showed that the construction of the 4 basic embankment works basically met the requirements of the approved design documents; the construction quality management documents were basically complete according to regulations; the completed works basically met the construction objectives. However, in the process of implementing investment and construction projects, the project approval agency, investor, project management unit, design unit, construction supervision unit, and construction contractor still lack in construction investment management and construction quality management according to the provisions of law.

No corruption or negative behavior has been detected.

According to the inspection conclusion, for the coastal embankment project in Ham Tien ward, Phan Thiet city, at the time of inspection, 3/19 concrete structure samples did not meet the concrete strength requirements compared to the approved design documents; the completion drawings of some works were not in accordance with the actual construction, leading to acceptance and payment of volumes not in accordance with the actual construction with a value of more than 85 million VND. In addition, the investment scale for the construction of the embankment line is regulated to be about 450 m long, however, the length of the reinforced embankment line is 500 m, about 50 m longer than the investment policy, which is a change in scale, not a change in the construction target or location. For the embankment project to protect the residential area in Phuoc Loc ward, La Gi town, the investor and the units have completed the related shortcomings to date, the Department of Construction has announced the end of monitoring the implementation of the inspection conclusion.

Coastal erosion in the area before the construction of the Coastal Protection Embankment in Duc Long Ward and Tien Duc Village, Tien Thanh Commune, Phan Thiet City

Regarding the coastal erosion protection project in Ward 5, Duc Long Ward and Tien Duc Village, Tien Thanh Commune, Phan Thiet City, at the time of inspection, no stone cages or stone blocks were found at the final lock location of the embankment, but through the quality management records and construction images, this work was carried out. In addition, it was discovered that 8/30 concrete structure samples tested did not meet the concrete strength requirements of the approved design documents. The inspection conclusion also pointed out that the construction site of the 350m long embankment belonging to the coastal erosion protection project in Ward 5, Duc Long Ward and Tien Duc Village, Tien Thanh Commune, Phan Thiet City was built in Tien Binh Village, Tien Thanh Commune (there are no residents living at this construction site) which is not in the correct location.

Duc Long sea embankment - Phan Thiet city (photo: N. Lan)

The coastal embankment project to prevent coastal erosion in wards 12, 13 and 14, Lien Huong town, combined with dredging of Lien Huong estuary, at the time of inspection, 16/35 tested concrete samples did not meet the concrete strength requirements of the approved design documents. The project has been accepted and put into use, and the Department of Finance has approved the project's final settlement. However, through the inspection of the documents, it was shown that the approval of the estimate for the road work serving the construction and the installation of precast concrete components were not in accordance with regulations, leading to the acceptance and settlement not in accordance with regulations with an amount of more than 1.4 billion VND.

Regarding the above shortcomings, during the inspection process, the investor and related units have recognized the existing problems and violations that need to be overcome and corrected. Particularly, the construction of the embankment project to prevent coastal erosion in Quarter 5, Duc Long Ward and Tien Duc Village, Tien Thanh Commune was not in the right location, contrary to the direction of the Prime Minister . Through the inspection, no acts of corruption, negativity, causing damage to life and property were discovered.

Coastal erosion situation in the area before the construction of the Coastal Protection embankment in Duc Long ward and Tien Duc village, Tien Thanh commune, Phan Thiet city

Coastal protection embankment of Duc Long ward and Tien Duc village, Tien Thanh commune, Phan Thiet city today.

Based on the inspection conclusion and opinions of the agencies, the Director of the Department of Construction recommends that the Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province direct competent agencies to handle responsibilities for related organizations and individuals due to violations stated in the Inspection Conclusion and request relevant agencies and units to organize reviews and handle responsibilities.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/thay-gi-qua-4-du-an-ke-bien-do-trung-uong-ho-tro-von-tai-tinh-binh-thuan-117348.html