Electric poles on National Highway 13 through Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province are being relocated to hand over the land to expand two more lanes (photo taken in July 2024)
Later, when there is an official conclusion from the central competent authority, the cost of relocating the above power grid will be reimbursed by the electricity industry or included in the project cost, and will be implemented according to the official conclusion.
Mr. Minh added that he has asked contractors to install electric poles along Highway 13 in combination with power cuts and relocation to limit the duration of power outages.
At the same time, it is necessary to ensure the progress of power grid relocation from now until October 2024 to soon complete the entire project.
Explaining further about the problem of relocating the power grid to construct National Highway 13, a knowledgeable official said there was a “discrepancy” between the regulations of the decree on management and protection of road traffic infrastructure and the 2013 Land Law.
According to the decree, for projects such as National Highway 13 in Binh Duong, the responsibility for relocating the power grid belongs to the project investor (committed to relocating by themselves and not requiring compensation).
While the provisions of the Land Law stipulate that the cost of relocating technical infrastructure systems (including electricity grid, water, telephone cables, Internet, etc.) is approved as part of the project’s compensation, support, and resettlement costs.
A leader of the Department of Industry and Trade of Binh Duong province said that with some other key transportation projects in the area, relocating the power grid and technical infrastructure is also an important step in handing over the construction site, but there is a way out.
For example, with projects that are investments in opening new routes (not expanding existing routes) such as Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, relocation costs are included in the route costs.
Currently, the investor of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project through Binh Duong is relocating water supply pipes, telecommunication cables, medium and low voltage power grids, etc. within the project scope in accordance with regulations.
Must deal with slow procedure implementation units
Dr. Pham Viet Thuan – Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Natural Resources and Environment – said that in all projects, there are funds to ensure the relocation of technical infrastructure works.
To ensure project progress, it is necessary to study to shorten administrative procedures. For example, during the construction process, if some locations urgently need land, a temporary relocation plan can be locally approved for implementation.
If there is a lack of funds, it is possible to propose an advance payment to do it immediately instead of waiting for the procedures to be completed before implementing.
According to Mr. Thuan, with transportation projects, the most difficult work is site clearance and compensation.
Therefore, it is difficult to accept that the most difficult part of the projects, which is clearing houses, has been completed, while less complicated electric poles are still standing on the route, hindering the project’s progress.
To ensure the overall progress of the entire project, it is necessary to handle the responsibility of the unit that prolonged the procedures causing this delay.