Hydropower plant construction blamed for damaged houses

June 28, 2018 - 16:20

Households in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Nông have complained that explosions at a nearby hydropower plant construction site may be causing damage to their homes.

A local complains about the cracks in his house, which seems to have been caused by explosions coming from the construction site of the nearby hydropower plant. – Photo vov.vn

Viet Nam News

ĐẮK NÔNG — Households in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Nông have complained that explosions at a nearby hydropower plant construction site may be causing damage to their homes.

Residents of Phú Trung and Phú Thuận villages in the province’s Quảng Phú Commune said explosives used to build the Chư Pông Krông hydropower plant in Krông Nô District have caused cracks to develop in their houses, the Voice of Việt Nam (VOV) reported.

Đỗ Quang Đảng, a Phú Trung village resident, said a number of large cracks started appearing in March in his house, which is 200m away from Krông Nô River.

“My house would rock whenever the explosions were carried out,” Đảng said. “I am scared because my solid house has developed many cracks.”

Another local, Lê Văn Chiến, said his newly-built house has also been affected by the explosions.

Chiến said while cracks had previously appeared in his house since it was just built, the impact from the explosions caused the cracks to become wider and longer.

Locals said some left their homes out of fear that they would collapse after receiving notice about the blasting from contractors.

Ongoing construction of the Chư Pông Krông Hydropower plant on the Krông Nô River, which sits on the border between Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông provinces. – Photo vov.vn
 

Residents have reported the situation to local authorities, the project’s investors and its construction team, asking them to determine the cause of the damage to their homes and to have a plan to support and compensate them for the damage.

Vũ Hoàng Phú, chairman of the Quảng Phú Commune People’s Committee, said they have received complaint letters from 25 households.

The provincial Department of Industry and Trade, which was directed by provincial authorities to inspect the site, confirmed that several houses had developed cracks.

The deputy chairman of the Krông Nô District People’s Committee, Trần Đăng Ánh, said local authorities and competent agencies were working with investors and the construction unit to investigate the damage and develop a plan to support the affected households by July 15.

Work on the 7.5MW Chư Pông Krông Hydropower plant began early this year. The plant is located on the Krông Nô River, which is on the border between Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông provinces. — VNS

 

 

 

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