Many difficulties and challenges
Ms. Vo Thi Thuy - temporarily residing in the Buon Tua Srah hydroelectric reservoir (Krong No commune, Dak Lak province) - shared: "Since leaving our hometown of Dong Thap to come here, my husband and I have only known to cast nets to catch fish. The entire family of 9 lives crowded on the raft. If we go ashore, we will be left empty-handed, we hope to receive government support for resettlement land, vocational training, and technical guidance on cultivation and animal husbandry to be able to borrow capital to do business stably".
Not only Ms. Thuy, many other households also share the desire to go ashore and live in a resettlement area with electricity, water, roads and basic infrastructure. They are ready to overcome the difficult initial stage if they receive specific guidance and support from the government.
However, according to Mr. Tran Nam Thuan - Chairman of the People's Committee of Ta Dung commune (Lam Dong province) - bringing people to shore is not simple. Most of the people have invested heavily in boats, household items on the lake and are used to life on the water surface. "If we want to mobilize effectively, we need to do careful research and have appropriate support so that people do not feel disadvantaged" - Mr. Thuan said.
Vice Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee - Mr. Nguyen Thien Van - also admitted that there are still many households living illegally on Buon Tua Srah Lake, most of whom have only registered for temporary residence. Every rainy and stormy season, life becomes more precarious and dangerous.
"The biggest difficulty is reviewing whether households have residential land or not. Most of them make a living by fishing, without any other livelihood. If implementing the plan to bring people to shore, the government needs to fully prepare land funds, infrastructure and vocational support policies so that people can stabilize in the long term" - Mr. Van emphasized.
Determined to resolve the issue completely
In reality, despite many difficulties, local authorities are still determined to thoroughly handle the situation of illegal settlement in the hydropower reservoir areas. This not only ensures the safety of the reservoir but also contributes to protecting the ecosystem and landscape of Ta Dung National Park.
Mr. Tran Nam Thuan said that if people are brought to shore, the locality will arrange land for resettlement, infrastructure improvement, and at the same time implement vocational training, supporting seedlings to help people settle down. "It is difficult to bring people to shore, but for them to settle down and not return to the lake, it is even more difficult" - Mr. Thuan emphasized. If delayed, population management and ensuring security and order will become increasingly difficult.
Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen - Chairman of the People's Committee of Krong No commune - said that after the two-level government apparatus comes into stable operation, the commune will review the circumstances of households still living on the lake, develop a resettlement area planning plan to submit to competent authorities for approval. According to him, the fact that people have not been resettled on land is a big disadvantage, but it needs to be implemented step by step to ensure sustainability. When they have stable housing and a livelihood, the people who are already suffering will actively contribute to the local socio-economic development.
Vice Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee - Mr. Nguyen Thien Van - affirmed that in the coming time, the province will direct departments and branches to coordinate with the commune level to fully count households living illegally on the lake, establish a legal resettlement area plan, and ensure essential infrastructure. When problems arise, localities must promptly report to handle them. At the same time, the authorities will strengthen management, coordinate with hydropower operation units to closely monitor the reservoir corridor, avoiding unsustainable resettlement.
Mr. Nguyen Thien Van - Vice Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee - also said: "The province's urgent implementation of the project to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses for people in difficult circumstances but not paying attention to people living in the lake area is also one of the shortcomings. This responsibility belongs to the grassroots government. Bringing people to shore early is one of the urgent tasks that need to be implemented early. Commune-level authorities need to study current regulations soon to support people and help them settle down and make a living."
