Thousands of households in Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces in the Central Highlands have left behind cultivated lands for various hydropower projects yet the compensation work still leaves much to be desired.

Many households relocated for hydropower plants in the Central Highlands

People in the Central Highlands are willing to leave behind their lands for projects and hoped for a better life. But in reality, they face many difficulties. The inspection team of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council said they would file complaints with the prime minister. 

70 households of Xe Dang ethnic minority group in Dak Tang Village, Kon Tum Province, had to be relocated for Thuong Kon Tum Hydropower Plant. They were only given a small house and a plot of land that can't be cultivated. Villager A Dep said, "Many people have to find other jobs. I was able to raise the whole family with my old fields but now we can't raise anything."

88 households in Vuong and Xo Luong villages also had to move out for Dak Drink Hydropower Plant with a promise that each household would be compensated one hectare. But after five years, nothing has been done due to lack of funding.

Dang Thanh Nam, vice head of Kong Plong District said, "The investor of Dak Drink Hydropower Plant still owes the locals VND85bn (USD3.4m) in compensation and resettlement money. The villagers haven’t been supported or given any fields. The investor really pushed us into a tight spot. If nothing is done, disorder and chaos may ensue."

The ethnic people in Ju Village have been compensated with money but since their whole lives depend on the fields, they are facing many difficulties. Many have to find other jobs while others destroy forest lands.

There are about 190 hydropower projects in the Central Highlands. That means thousands of households have been relocated and many villages disappeared. Up to 6,000 households with over 27,000 people were relocated in Kon Tum Province alone. The inspection team of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council has pointed out many shortcomings such as investors building tiny houses for villagers in mountainous areas which aren’t part of their culture and lifestyle while their rice fields are located far away. 

Nguyen Lam Thanh, vice chairman of the Ethnic Council said they would file complaints to the prime minister and related agencies. "We'll follow this case to the end and clarify individual responsibilities."

Lao Dong/Dtinews