Directive No. 938-TTg on the construction of planning schemes, plans, and the organization of relocation for Muong Lay Town and Lai Chau City, and the resettlement of households out of flood-prone areas.

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the planning, organization of relocation for the town of Mường Lay and the city of Lai Châu, and the resettlement of households from flood-prone areas relocate the town

Muong Lay, Laichau city and resettlement of households from flash flood areas

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In 1996, natural disasters occurred continuously across all regions nationwide. Unfavorable weather factors became increasingly frequent and severe, causing significant losses in terms of human lives, houses, property, production, and infrastructure.

Heavy localized rainfall in some mountainous areas caused flash floods and landslides with particularly severe destruction. In the Muong Lay valley area and the city of Lai Chau, most agricultural land and many houses were swept away or buried.

Despite the efforts of various levels and sectors from central to local authorities, implementing proactive measures to cope with the disasters, due to the geographical location, topographical characteristics, and severity of the natural disasters, losses in all aspects remained serious.

To proactively prevent flash floods in various regions and localities, especially in the town of Muong Lay and the city of Lai Chau, and other mountainous areas in Northwest Vietnam where flash floods and landslides are likely to occur, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The relocation of the town of Muong Lay and the city of Lai Chau must be promptly carried out. Immediate action should also be taken to address the aftermath of natural disasters. From now on, planning, organizing, and relocating residents of Muong Lay town, Lai Chau city, and households in the flood-prone areas is an urgent task that is crucial for both disaster prevention and economic-social development in this region.

2. The relocation of cities and towns and the resettlement of part of the population from narrow river valleys and gorges to avoid flash floods is a joint effort between the State and the people. To implement this program, it mainly relies on the strength of the people and local resources that can be mobilized, encouraging mutual assistance among the people, paying attention to policy-targeted families and poor families. The State's assistance mainly focuses on infrastructure construction.

Localities must pay attention to implementing planning and arranging residential areas as stipulated in Directive No. 393/TTg dated June 10, 1996, issued by the Prime Minister. First, clearly identify the number of households that need to be relocated from areas prone to flash floods, landslides, or burial due to landslides; arrange and adjust them into reasonable residential clusters and proactively develop plans to coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to organize and direct implementation.

3. The Ministry of Construction shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, the General Department of Land Administration, and related ministries and sectors to assist the People's Committee of Lai Chau Province in urgently researching and developing a plan for the new location of the town of Muong Lay and the city of Lai Chau to submit to the Government.

The project must meet the following requirements:

- Not causing significant disruptions to the people's lives and quickly stabilizing the living conditions of the residents.

- The new location must avoid natural disasters and future reservoir inundation areas while ensuring sustainable economic and social development.

4. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead, coordinating with relevant ministries and sectors to assist localities in planning, allocating residents, constructing water conservancy systems, developing agriculture, and relocating residents by region and area. In the short term, the following tasks need to be prioritized:

a) Studying and building water conservancy projects with appropriate scale and technology to improve paddy fields, increase acreage and cropping intensity, mobilize adjustments in farmland allocation, and arrange for the reception of residents in areas such as Yen Chau, Co Noi, Song Ma in Son La; Muong Than, Nam Muc, Muong So, Binh Lu, Tam Duong in Lai Chau, and considering these as priority directions when planning resettlement.

b) Developing plans and programs for the resettlement of the city of Lai Chau and Muong Lay town, and organizing the relocation and resettlement of households in areas frequently affected by natural disasters according to the following schedule:

+ Resettlement of non-agricultural residents will accompany the relocation of the city and town.

+ Relocation of agricultural residents will partly follow the city and town, with the remainder planned to move to new locations as mentioned in point a above.

+ Organizing the relocation and resettlement of agricultural households will be carried out in three steps:

- Promptly organize the relocation of households that lost both houses and farmland during the recent natural disaster.

- Second step, relocate households that still have houses but lost farmland.

- Third step, relocate remaining households to avoid natural disasters and flood-prone areas.

Planning, organizing, and funding for the resettlement of households in steps 1 and 2 will be implemented immediately using state budget funds allocated for resident resettlement and disaster relief programs.

5. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall consult with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide financial support for investigations, research, and planning to implement this program.

6. Ministries of Transport, Construction, Science and Technology, Environment, Education and Training, Health, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and other relevant ministries and sectors shall assist the Northwest provinces in planning residential areas, solutions for infrastructure construction, and cultural and social development in residential areas according to their respective functions.

The relocation of the town of Muong Lay and the city of Lai Chau and the arrangement and relocation of residents from areas prone to flash floods and landslides are urgent tasks that cannot be delayed. The Prime Minister requests the People's Committees of Northwest provinces and relevant ministries and sectors to urgently organize and implement this directive.