VietNamNet Bridge – More than 40,000 people living in 15 coastal villages in Quang Nam Province will be resettled in other areas less prone to natural disasters, according to Quang Nam Province People's Committee.

The provincial People's Committee says the project will be carried out in three phases from 2008 to 2020 at a total cost of VND3.679tril.

The first stage will begin from 2008 to 2010, which will move 4,330 households, and the second phase from 2011 to 2015 will involve the resettling of 3,000 households.

Around 800 households will be moved between 2016 and 2020.

Of the total costs, some VND480bil will be used to establish resettlement areas and VND153bil to build infrastructure in resettlement areas.

The committee said VND713bil would be spent to upgrade coastlines and riverside dykes, while VND53bil would be spent on vocational training to enable locals to earn a living.

Areas eligible for the project include 15 communes in four districts of Nui Thanh, Duy Xuyen, Thang Binh and Tam Ky.

However, most residents were concerned about receiving the amount of compensation, said Nguyen Duc Tuc, the president of Tam Hai Commune, adding that compensation should be equal to the current value of the land.

Finding suitable employment was also a major problem that needs to be resolved after land clearance, said Nguyen Tien, the president of Nui Thanh District.

"The concerns that people have are job creation and restoration of traditional crafts," he said.

The new resettlement area is located in Tam Hoa Commune which lies between the Truong Giang River and the seaport.

The Tam Giang port project under construction is expected to create a favourable environment for those making a living in the fisheries industry, Tien said.

(Source: Viet Nam News)