Pork farm hinders site clearance for highway
The pig farm project in Viet Xuyen commune (Viet Tien commune, old Thach Ha district) was approved by the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province in Decision No. 3953 dated October 13, 2015, with a scale of 150 sows.
Based on the investor's request, on April 19, 2021, the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province issued a decision approving the adjustment of the Master Plan for Land Use of the Project, increasing the farm area from 2,901m2 to 7,950m2.
Increase the area of the pigsty from 384m2 to 2,145m2; the food warehouse increased from 400m2 to 907.5m2; add a new quarantine area, milk shelter and pig farm.
With these additional items, the total investment of the project also increased from VND 4.166 billion to VND 13.331 billion.
Notably, on April 8, 2024, the Department of Construction of Ha Tinh province issued a report affirming: At the time of planning adjustment, this unit had conducted an on-site inspection and determined that the direction of the expressway was not expected to affect the construction items of the project.
However, in reality, when implementing the construction of the North - South expressway, the Bai Vot - Ham Nghi component project hit this livestock farm directly.
With the approved planning adjustment, the investor has deployed the construction of additional barns, raising more than 500 pigs.
This has increased compensation costs, difficulties and complications, and slowed down the site clearance time of the Bai Vot - Ham Nghi Expressway Project.
Accordingly, by May 2024, Thach Ha district had paid more than 14 billion VND to compensate the pig farm owner after reclaiming 2 hectares of land including livestock barn, trees, and crops in the farm.
Pointing out many violations
According to Conclusion No. 24 dated July 7, 2025 of the Inspectorate of Ha Tinh province, the establishment, appraisal, consultation and approval of investment policies and planning adjustments for the General Agricultural Production Farm project in Viet Xuyen commune have some shortcomings and limitations.
Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (old) issued Document No. 1647 dated April 17, 2015, allowing investors to continue raising 150 sows and ducks for laying eggs, no more than 2,000 eggs, raising 8 hectares of freshwater fish, growing rice, ornamental plants, forestry plants, and raising pigs for meat for less than 300 eggs/ host.
From there, investors have based on this document to prepare and propose approval of investment policies. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant departments and localities also gave their opinions based on that document to agree to advise the Provincial People's Committee to approve the project investment policy that is not in accordance with the Provincial Planning for the development of livestock and concentrated livestock areas until 2020.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has not carefully reviewed to assess and give opinions on the adjusted planning to increase the scale of investment in building barns, change some contents and investment goals and increase the scale of livestock farming compared to the initially approved Investment Policy.
The Department of Planning and Investment (old) advised Document No. 1040 dated October 8, 2015 to submit to the Provincial People's Committee for approval of the investment policy, including the content of assessing the project implementation location in accordance with the approved Livestock Planning and concentrated livestock areas of the province.
The Department of Construction (old) advised the Provincial People's Committee to allow the Investor to prepare a master plan for land use without making a detailed plan, and at the same time organize appraisal and consultation on approving the master plan for land use at the project that does not ensure the correct order and procedures.
This department also plans the general land use plan that is not in accordance with the specialized planning according to regulations.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (old) gave opinions on appraisal of land use needs and appraisal of land lease conditions for projects that are behind the time limit prescribed in Clause 4, Article 33 of the Law on Investment 2014 and after the Department of Planning and Investment advised the Provincial People's Committee to approve the project investment policy.
The People's Committee of Thach Ha district (old) is responsible for not giving any assessment of the project's compliance with the planning and socio-economic development plan of the locality when giving opinions on the project investment policy.
The People's Committee of Thach Tien commune (later merged into Viet Tien commune) did not have an appraisal opinion sent to the Department of Planning and Investment on the current status of the land, compliance with the new rural planning, and environmental impact according to regulations, which is not fully performing the assigned functions and tasks.
Through the inspection, it is recommended to seriously review the violations pointed out by the inspection team, clarify responsibilities, take handling measures according to authority and regulations for relevant organizations and individuals in advising on approving investment policies, planning and adjusting planning at the project.
