Ha Giang discusses plans to relocate landslide-prone Coc Pai Town

BHG - Ha Giang Party Secretary Hau A Lenh had a working session with Xin Man District on the afternoon of February 11 regarding plans to relocate Coc Pai Town due to high risks of landslides.

According to research findings, 16 landslide masses have been identified in Coc Pai Town, with 13 masses either active or reactivating. Of particular concern are the landslide masses at the stadium and district administrative area, measuring 350-500 metres in length, 150-200 metres in width, and 12-18 metres in depth.

Provincial leaders survey a proposed area for the new Xin Man District centre.

Landslides occur slowly during the dry season but accelerate rapidly during the rainy season, making early warning difficult. Studies show that 57.87% of the area is assessed as having very high and high risk, 26.35% medium risk, and only 15.78% low risk.

The number of households affected in the area is 1,041, comprising 3,845 residents (including 44 households with 173 people in the very high-risk area).

During the meeting, Xin Man District proposed relocating households in landslide-prone areas, initially moving 44 households from high-risk areas to a new safe location. The proposed site is in Na Pan Village, 6 kilometres from the centre of Coc Pai Town.

Ha Giang Party Secretary Hau A Lenh inspects a landslide site in Coc Pai Town.

The planned locations for the new district centre are as follows.

The first location covers 398 hectares, including portions of Xin Man, Quan Din Ngai, and Lao Po Villages in Xin Man Commune (207.6 hectares, including the current commune centre of 35 hectares), and extending into parts of Khau Tinh Village in Then Phang Commune (175.4 hectares) and Ho Sao Chai Village in Chi Ca Commune (15 hectares).

The second location covers 248 hectares in Hau Cau Village, Xin Man Commune.

Concluding the meeting and following site inspections, Lenh, who is also Chairman and Minister of the Government Committee for Ethnic Affairs, emphasised the necessity of relocating state assets and residents away from high and very high landslide risk areas in Coc Pai Town to a new, safe location.

He called for a public referendum on relocating Coc Pai Town, emphasising the need for transparency to gain public consensus.

Regarding the new district centre location, he stressed that the site must align with planning requirements, accommodate government office relocation, and facilitate workforce movement linked to border trade development, before submission to the provincial standing committee for decision.

VAN NGHI