Partial Dissatisfaction with Compensation Plan for Saltwater Intrusion Victims Near Camau Airport

Authorities in Camau Province's Tan Thanh Ward have announced a compensation plan exceeding VND2 billion (approximately USD80,000) for residents affected by saltwater intrusion from the Camau Airport expansion and upgrade project. However, some affected fish farmers have expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed compensation amounts. On the afternoon of August 5, the Tan Thanh Ward People's Committee held a meeting with residents to announce the support plan for damages caused by saltwater from the airport expansion project flooding the production areas. The plan, agreed upon with the construction contractor, allocates over VND2 billion in total. Specifically, 15 households directly impacted by the saltwater intrusion in their fish farms (primarily cá chình - eel, and cá bống tượng - grouper) will receive over VND1.5 billion, with individual support ranging from VND40 million to VND150 million per household. An additional 34 households, deemed to have suffered indirect impacts, are proposed to receive VND5 million each to help renovate their ponds and restore production. For rice production, 15 households with direct damage will be supported a total of VND268 million, varying by area. Forty households with indirect damage will receive over VND148 million. Six households cultivating vegetables and fruit trees will receive nearly VND14 million. During the meeting, most rice farmers, both those directly and indirectly affected, agreed with the proposed plan. The majority of fish farmers who suffered direct losses also accepted the offer. However, many fish farmers categorized as indirectly affected stated that the VND5 million compensation per household is not commensurate with their losses and thus have not agreed to the plan. Nguyen Truong Giang, Vice Chairman of the Tan Thanh Ward People's Committee, stated that households accepting the plan will receive their payments by August 15. Those who disagree can file complaints for review by competent authorities or initiate legal action. According to ward leaders, determining the exact damages has been prolonged due to many residents not retaining receipts or proof of production investment, and having not previously declared their activities to the authorities, necessitating multiple verification steps. The Camau Airport expansion and upgrade project has a total investment of VND2,400 billion (approximately USD96 million). During construction, saltwater from the site flowed into the local canal system, affecting rice, crops, and aquaculture of over 120 households in Tan Thanh Ward. The most severe damage was concentrated among eel and grouper farmers. Previously, at a meeting to address the issue, Le Van Sử, Vice Chairman of the Camau Provincial People's Committee, directed the investor to compensate residents based on the average income of a full production season, rather than just calculating investment costs. He noted that the salinized land and water sources could continue to impact the ability to re-establish production. Specialized agencies were tasked with coordinating with local authorities, residents, and traders to determine the extent of the damages as a basis for compensation. According to calculations by the Tan Thanh Ward People's Committee, raising eel in a 1,000 sqm pond for 12 months requires approximately VND238 million in costs. With a 70% survival rate, the profit could be around VND100 million. Grouper farming in the same area and timeframe could yield a profit of about VND55 million. For rice, the profit per harvest for 1,000 sqm is approximately VND800,000. Source: VnExpress