Decision No. 49/2008/QD-TTg dated April 22, 2008 of the Prime Minister approving the master plan on settlement of inhabitants of Vietnam-Laos border communes in the Northern mountainous midland region up to 2015

DECISION

APPROVING THE MASTER PLAN ON SETTLEMENT OF INHABITANTS OF VIETNAM-LAOS BORDER COMMUNES IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINOUS MIDLAND REGION UP TO 2015

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;
Pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 79/2005/QD-TTg of April 15, 2005, promulgating the Government's action program on implementation of the Politburo's Resolution No. 37/NQ/TW of July 1, 2007, on socio-economic development and national defense and security for the northern mountainous midland region to 2010;
At the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Report No. 2721/TTr-BNN-HTX of October 3, 2007, and Official Letter No. 25/BNN-HTX of January 4, 2008, and the Minister of Planning and Investment in Official Letter No. S94/BKH-TD&GDT of February 12, 2008.

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To approve the master plan on settlement of inhabitants of Vietnam-Laos border communes in the northern mountainous midland region up to 2015 with the following principal contents:

1. Scope of planning

The master plan covers 81 communes along Vietnam-Laos border of 19 districts of Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Son La and Dien Bien provinces, including:

- Dien Bien province: 22 communes of 3 districts, namely Muong Nhe (7 communes), Muong Cha (6 communes) and Dien Bien (9 communes)

- Son La province: 17 communes of 5 districts, namely Sop Cop (4 communes). Song Ma (4 communes), Moc Chau (4 communes), Mai Son (1 commune) and Yen Chau (4 communes).

- Thanh Hoa province: 15 communes of 5 districts, namely Muong Lat (6 communes), Quan Hoa (1 commune), Quan Son (6 communes), Lang Chanh (1 commune) and Thuong Xuan (1 commune).

- Nghe An province: 27 communes of 6 districts, namely Que Phong (4 communes), Tuong Duong (4 communes), Ky Son (11 communes), Con Cuong (2 communes), Anh Son (1 commune) and Thanh Chuong (5 communes).

2. Objectives

a/ Overall objectives: To basically ensure settlement for inhabitants of Vietnam-Laos border communes in the northern mountainous midland region to exploit the region's potential for socio-economic development, improve the material and spiritual life of ethnic minority people, tackle free migration and firmly protect border security.

b/ Specific targets:

- To arrange settlement for 35,384 poor households of border communes in their own localities; to arrange settlement for 6,847 households, of which 1.951 households will settle in existing villages and 4,896 households will resettle in new residential areas;

- To reclaim 14,300 ha of land for agricultural production, including 1,740 ha of wet rice fields and terrace fields;

- To build complete infrastructure, including roads, irrigation, electricity, daily life water and public works, in order to stabilize the life and develop production for villagers;

- People's life: The average grain output will reach over 330kg/person; the rate of poor households will be reduced from 53% to 20%; 60-80% of households will be supplied with clean water; 60% of households will be supplied with electricity; 100% of communes will be covered with radio and television broadcasting; 100% of villages will have community cultural centers; and 100% of inhabitants will receive healthcare services.

3. Planning orientations for settlement of inhabitants

a/ Planning on settlement of inhabitants along the border

- To arrange settlement for 191,608 people of 35,384 poor households in their existing localities.

- To arrange settlement for 6,847 households by integrating them into existing residential areas or relocating them to new ones, including 3,927 households lacking production land and daily life water; 1,242 households in areas in danger of landside and sweeping flood; 145 households in special-use and protection forest areas; 764 households being split ones; 475 households to be relocated for defense requirements; 159 households to be relocated for site clearance of transport and irrigation work construction; and 135 households for other requirements;

- In addition to the above households, the master plan lakes into account settlement for around 3,923 households to be relocated from hydro-electric power and irrigation works.

b/ Development of agro-forestry and rural trades

- Agricultural production: The area under grain cultivation will be 42,700 ha, the average food output will reach over 330kg/person; to plant 2,100 ha of fruit trees, 4,700 ha of perennial industrial crops and 4,500 ha of short-term industrial crops; to raise 91,400 buffaloes, 89,500 cows, 323,800 pigs, over 1.5 million poultry and 29.600 goats and horses;

- Forestry production development: To zone off 21,700 ha for reforestation, to plant 11,450 ha of forests; to bring the forest coverage to 55%;

- Development of trades, handicraft, small industries and services: To encourage development of forging, casting, brocade weaving and wood carving; to build border markets; to build Nam Can, Chieng Khuong and Nam Meo international border gates; to embellish and restore historical relics and scenic places for tourist development.

c/ Infrastructure construction investment

- Road systems: To build 1,675 km and upgrade 442 km of inter-village roads;

- Irrigation systems: To build 380 irrigation works and 394 km of canals for irrigation for 4,844 ha;

- Community infrastructure: To build 44,180m2 of schools; 48 health stations and medicine dispensaries with a total area of around 3,400m2; 530 village offices and cultural centers with a total area of 39,300m2; 20 border markets with a total area of around 8,000m2; 350 water and electricity supply works for over 12,300 households; to build 5 television stations in communes of Dien Bien province; to build 174 transformer stations, 1,975.5 km of 0.4kV transmission lines and 145 small generators.

4. Implementation solutions

a/ Policies to support settlement of inhabitants and production development

Policies to support settlement of inhabitants and production development comply with the Prime Minister's Decision No. 160/2007/QD-TTg of October 17, 2007, approving the Scheme on socio-economic development of communes along Vietnam-Laos border and Vietnam-Cambodia border to 2010, and other relevant current policies.

b/ Science and technology

- To supply plant seeds and feedings and animal breeds for production, with priority given to those of export advantages.

- To increase agricultural extension, introduce technical advances into production; develop models on crop raising, plantation of specialty crops, animal raising and aquaculture; to apply science and technology to preservation of farm produce and foods.

- To increase animal and plant quarantine,

c/ Markets and sale

- To develop economy in border gates and border markets and build border gates to facilitate people's trade.

- To cooperate in cross-border trade, barter trade and trading with the People's Democratic Republic of Laos and regional countries.

- To implement trade development policies in accordance with the Government's Decree No. 20/1998/ND-CP of March 31, 1998, on trade development in mountainous, island and ethnic minority regions, and Decree No. 02/2002/ND-CP of January 3, 2002, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government's Decree No. 20/1998/ND-CP of March 31, 1998.

d/ Training, human resource development and raising people's intellectual level: To open training courses for village cadres in guiding people in production; 15-20% of laborers will receive vocational training by 2010.

e/ Defense and security

- To build a posture of all-people's defense, form firm people's defense lines and people's security along the entire border.

- To propagate and educate people in border areas to participate in border management.

- To deeply understand border areas and fight activities harming national security.

- To build defense economic zones in border areas and develop defense economy.

- To strengthen political units in border villages.

f/ Investment capital and funding sources

- Total needed investment capital is around VND 5,400.8 billion

- Investment capital sources include funding sources for existing programs and projects in the localities; targeted support of central budget funds for investment in projects on settlement of inhabitants of Vietnam-Laos border communes will be around VND 984 billion (accounting for 18.2% of the total needed investment capital).

Article 2.- Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall:

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and branches in, guiding People's Committees of Vietnam-Laos border provinces in the northern mountainous midland region in:

- Formulating provincial master plans on settlement of inhabitants of border communes and investment projects and submitting them to competent authorities for approval.

- Elaborating five-year and annual plans on settlement of inhabitants for sum-up and submission to the Prime Minister for approval.

- Developing models on arrangement of inhabitants of border communes on a trial basis before implementing them on a wide scale.

b/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and branches and provincial People's Committees in, reviewing, adjusting and supplementing the master plan when necessary.

c/ Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in studying supplements and amendments to policies on settlement of inhabitants in border communes.

d/ Examine, monitor and evaluate settlement results in localities.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for. and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in, balancing and allocating annual funds for provinces and ministries and branches to implement the master plan after reaching agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall:

a/ Coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in allocating annual funds for localities and ministries and branches to implement projects under the master plan.

b/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Planning and Investment in, guiding mechanisms on management, provision, disbursement and final settlement of investment capital of projects.

4. The Ministry of Defense shall direct its attached units in guiding and assisting people in production and resettlement; build defense economic zones and ensure defense and security in the border region.

5. Concerned ministries and branches shall, based on their assigned functions and tasks, adopt plans to coordinate with provincial People's Committees in implementing this master plan.

6. The People's Committees of Son La, Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces shall:

a/ Direct and organize the formulation, appraisal and approval of their provincial master plans on settlement of inhabitants in border communes and investment projects according to regulations.

b/ Elaborate estimates of targeted central budget supports for every year and the 2008-2015 period for projects on settlement of inhabitants in Vietnam-Laos border communes and submit them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for sum-up and submission to the Prime Minister for approval.

c/ Incorporate capital sources for other programs and projects in their localities into projects on settlement of inhabitants in Vietnam-Laos border communes.

d/ Direct Services, Departments, branches and local administrations at all levels in closely coordinating with mass organizations in propagating and mobilizing people to actively implement the master plan on settlement of inhabitants in Vietnam-Laos border communes and increase their examination and supervision on the implementation of specific projects in their localities to ensure investment efficiency.

Article 3- This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in "CONG BAO."

Article 4- Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and the presidents of the People's Committees of Dien Bien, Son La, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces shall implement this Decision.