VietNamNet Bridge – For the past two years, hundreds of people resettled due to natural disasters have been forced to use water from stagnant ponds as their resettlement area lacks clean water.

The central province of Thanh Hoa's Sub-Department of Rural Development spent more than VND10 billion (US$476,190) from the State budget to build the Sim Village resettlement area, which moved more than 200 people from a dangerous area in Quang Chieu Commune which often faced flash floods and landslides.

The resettlement area opened in 2012. After only a few months, the VND2.4 billion ($114,200) clean water supply system broke and has yet to be fixed.

This is not the area's only sanitation problem. Houses are so close together that collective toilets cannot be built and residents can only afford to build temporary toilets. When it rains, foul-smelling water from the toilets flows everywhere.

Lo Van Buong, head of Sim Village, said that the village had reported the situation to the commune and district people's committees but did not receive any reply.

Bui Cong Anh, deputy director of the Thanh Hoa Sub-department of Rural Development, told Tien phong (Vanguard) newspaper that the State budget was only enough for land clearance, setting up the electricity system, building roads and supporting each household with VND20 million ($950) for moving. The project did not have any fund for building toilets.

The clean water supply system was out of work because when the road connecting Pu Nhi Commune with Muong Chanh Commune was built, gravelly soil blocked the water resources, according to Anh, who also said that some parts of the water pipe system were stolen.

The sub-department had reported the case to the provincial people's committee for guidance.

Source: VNS