Heartbreaking million dollar project becomes deserted, roads degraded

The project of nearly 145 hectares has been "on paper" for many years.

In mid-May, from National Highway 18, Giao Thong Newspaper reporters turned onto the newly opened road to reach the area where the project of producing shrimp seeds, raising commercial shrimp and processing shrimp feed using high technology (aquaculture project - reporter) is located at the end of Son Hai village, Cong Hoa commune, Cam Pha city (Quang Ninh).

A young man from Son Hai village pointed to a wasteland, overgrown with grass, full of deep ponds with a system of eroded embankments, and said: "This place used to be a good place for many households to raise shrimp, but now the project has taken it over and left it abandoned, with grass growing and a huge water hole. People are only worried that their children will go swimming and drown."

After many years of implementation, the entire project area is still just a wasteland.

Following the concrete road with many cracks, Giao thong Newspaper reporters went deep into the aquaculture project. Through observation, the entire project area had almost no investment except for a leaning fence, a security booth, several cracked water tanks and several dilapidated level 4 houses, with no one in sight.

Seeing a stranger entering the project area, Mr. Hoang Van Tuyen (residing in Cong Hoa commune), who was hired to look after the project, came by motorbike and said: "Since the decision to implement this project was made, nothing has been done because of problems with adjusting the investment policy and the site."

According to Mr. Tuyen, this area is currently managed by the enterprise and local authorities, because the land has not been handed over. In the project area, there are many ponds and lagoons that people used to raise shrimp. When the tide rises, the ponds are flooded very deeply.

"We are very worried about children going swimming, there is a risk of drowning accidents, so we always have to keep an eye on them," said Mr. Tuyen.

While fishing with some women in the tidal flats, Ms. Pham Thi Hai, a resident of Cong Hoa commune, said: "Previously, the ponds and lagoons had owners, and every year the embankment system was upgraded and maintained, so we could exploit seafood easily. Now it has become a deserted project, the embankments have been eroded by the tide, making it difficult for people to go to the tidal flats to exploit seafood."

Degraded traffic and landslides make danger always lurking for those who exploit natural seafood.

Speaking to Giao thong Newspaper, Mr. Pham Van Chien, Vice Chairman of Cong Hoa Commune People's Committee, said: The aquaculture project in the area has been approved for many years, the site clearance work has been carried out, the road connecting National Highway 18 to the project worth about 80 billion VND from the budget has also been completed a long time ago. Only the project has remained "inactive" until now.

"The local government and people have repeatedly petitioned the competent authorities to urge and remove related obstacles so that the project can be implemented. If the project investor does not implement it, the project should be revoked," Mr. Chien suggested.

Reviewing and adjusting project scale

Through the investigation of Giao Thong Newspaper reporters, according to approved decisions, the aquaculture project in Cong Ho commune, phase 1, has an area of ​​over 144.33 hectares with a commercial production scale of 50 tons/ha/year, equivalent to about 2,596 tons and 15 million shrimp seeds/year, creating jobs for about 650 workers.

The project information board was peeling, broken, and the content was no longer readable.

The project is invested by NG Cam Pha Seafood Joint Stock Company with a budget of 400 billion VND and will operate for 50 years. Construction progress is in 2018 and production will begin in January 2019.

However, the project could not be implemented according to the original plan. Therefore, on February 6, 2020, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province decided to approve the adjustment of the project schedule from November 2019 to the end of January 2021. However, up to now, the project continues to be behind schedule, although the provincial authorities and Cam Pha City have continuously issued documents urging and directing to remove the obstacles.

In particular, on August 6, 2021, the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province issued a document directing the Department of Planning and Investment to request NG Cam Pha Seafood Joint Stock Company to urgently carry out tasks to implement the project such as paying for replacement forest planting, transferring funds to the People's Committee of Cam Pha City to pay compensation and site clearance.

The document also clearly states that after NG Cam Pha Seafood Joint Stock Company completes the above contents, the Department of Planning and Investment will report to the Provincial People's Committee to adjust the project investment policy according to regulations.

Many points on the concrete road surface in the project area are broken, posing a potential traffic safety risk.

It is known that, up to now, NG Seafood Joint Stock Company has fulfilled its obligation to pay for replacement forest planting when changing the purpose of forest use to another purpose to implement the project, and has transferred enough funds for site clearance for the project.

On that basis, Cam Pha City People's Committee chaired the meeting to invite representatives of the Departments of Planning and Investment, Natural Resources and Environment, Construction, Agriculture and Rural Development to work and review the conditions for continuing to implement the project.

"However, according to the approved master plan of Cam Pha City, there is a road passing through the project area, so the Provincial People's Committee is directing a review of the project. Currently, the investor is studying to adjust the detailed plan of the project to submit to the competent authority for approval," informed the leader of the Department of Planning and Investment of Quang Ninh province.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/xot-xa-du-an-trieu-do-thanh-bai-hoang-duong-sa-xuong-cap-192240517110745973.htm