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| The Đà River Water Pipeline Project’s pipes have broken 17 times since the completion of the first phase in 2009. – Photo www.tienphong.vn |
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI (VNS) – The Vinaconex Water Supply Joint Stock Company (Viwasupco) has decided to relieve Bùi Minh Trường of his post as director of the Đà River Water Pipeline Project’s second phase.
Trường had to hand over work, documents and other assets related to the post to staff who were assigned to take over the position, Viwasupco said on Tuesday. However, it did not give any specific reason for the dismissal.
Concerns have been raised by the public over the quality of the project, as well as the reason for choosing the Chinese contractor, Xingxing Corporation, as the pipe has broken 17 times since the completion of the first phase in 2009.
Last Monday, the company appointed Lê Minh Quý as deputy director general and director of the Project Management Board for a five-year period.
According to the company, Quý was assigned to bear the responsibility for the operations of the project’s management unit, which supplies water to nearly 200,000 households in Sơn Tây, Hòa Lạc, Xuân Mai and Miếu Môn, as well as Hà Nội and Hà Đông. He was supposed to ensure that the project was carried out effectively in accordance with State regulations.
As the main investor for the Đà River Water Pipeline Project’s second phase, Viwasupco opened bids between August 2015 and March 2016 to seek suppliers for the project’s ductile iron water pipelines and spare parts. On March 21, the company announced that Xingxing Corporation had won the contract with a bid price 11.8 per cent lower than the approved price.
The Hà Nội People’s Committee proposed that Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc ask the developer of the project to postpone signing a contract with the Chinese contractor. Phúc agreed with the request, directing Viwasupco to delay the signing to clarify information after concerns from residents.
In a related development, Viwasupco said it has hired legal advisors to assess the possible consequences of canceling the contract.
In July last year, seven officials including two from Đà River Pipeline project management board were prosecuted for breaches in the pipeline.
The seven officials were charged with “committing violations that resulted in serious consequences." More specifically, they were charged with causing the Đà River water pipeline to break 10 times, costing the state more than VNĐ9.3 billion (US$417,000). – VNS
