A sturgeon breeding project worth more than VNĐ50 billion (US$2.1 million) has been abandoned in Sơn La Province for the past three years, wasting State investment resources.

SƠN LA — A sturgeon breeding project worth more than VNĐ50 billion (US$2.1 million) has been abandoned in Sơn La Province for the past three years, wasting State investment resources.

The concentrated sturgeon project in Mường La and Quỳnh Nhai districts was approved by the People's Committee of Sơn La Province in 2016 and completed in 2020.

The project includes a sturgeon breeding centre in Nà Tòng Village, Hua Trai Commune, Mường La District and a concentrated sturgeon farming area in Chiềng Bằng Commune, Quỳnh Nhai District.

It was expected to form a safe aquaculture area for concentrated sturgeon farming and be a focal point for the preservation, distribution, and consumption of aquatic products, providing breeds and fishery services to farmers.

To construct the sturgeon breed centre, which is worth VNĐ40.8 billion, the People's Committee of Mường La District recovered more than 30,000sq.m of land from 112 households in Hua Trai Commune.

The amount of compensation for households was over VNĐ3.5 billion. However, so far, the project has not been put into use, making households who have lost their land unhappy, while the local authorities do not know how to respond to the people satisfactorily.

"It is very wasteful when the completed project has not been put into operation so far. People here expect the project will facilitate their production after it is put in use," said Tòng Văn Khiêm, vice chairman of the Hua Trai Commune's People's Committee.

Two years after being abandoned, many parts of the project, such as ponds, tanks, water supplies, drainage and power systems, protective fences and equipment have degraded.

Quàng Văn Dương, a resident, said he has been working as a security guard looking after the site since 2019.

The sturgeon breed centre was abandoned after two crops.

He took advantage of the abandoned ponds to raise ducks, goats and trash fish.

In Chiềng Bằng Commune, Quỳnh Nhai District, the construction of concentrated sturgeon farming area was built at a cost of over VNĐ10 billion.

The work includes a fishing wharf, yard, embankment, roads, office, water supply and drainage system, wastewater treatment system and power system.

However, it has never been put into use since it was completed. Many items of the construction are rusted and damaged.

The VNĐ10 billion project is now a place for farmers to dry their rice when harvest season comes.

Là Văn Lấng, a resident from Bỉa Ban village, said his family earns a living from fishing in Sơn La reservoir.

He and many other households were very excited to learn the project would be built here.

People hope the local government will soon have a solution to put into use to facilitate their fishing activities, Lấng said.

Vice-chairman of Quỳnh Nhai District People's Committee, Cầm Văn Huy, said the local government is submitting a plan to agencies for approval to organise an auction for lease.

Sơn La Provincial People's Committee recently has worked with relevant agencies to remove difficulties for the sturgeon breeding centre in Hua Trai Commune, Mường La District.

Accordingly, representatives of agencies suggested the centre should be managed by a unit under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. — VNS