Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has not permitted to resume construction at Da Dang-Da Chomo hydropower plant after a tunnel collapse accident in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on December 16.
In a written announcement from the Government Office, he tasked the Ministry of Construction to work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Lam Dong province People’s Committee to inspect and determine the reason of the accident which trapped 12 workers for nearly four days.
They should specify responsibilities of the project’s investor, designer, supervisor and constructor and spell out measures and conditions for the investor if it wants to continue construction, he required.
The Ministry of Construction should synthesize the above matters in a report and send it to the Prime Minister before authorized agencies permit to restart building the plant.
Besides the ministry of Construction should instruct and guide relevant agencies from central to local levels to comply with safety regulations while building tunnels and other underground works to prevent similar accidents from occurring.
Deputy PM Hai instructed the Lam Dong People’s Committee to make clear responsibilities of relevant departments for the collapsed tunnel at Da Dang hydropower and report to the Prime Minister.
Besides, he instructed the National Steering Committee for Search and Rescue to cooperate with relevant organs to estimate rescue operation in the tunnel collapse and proposed authorized agencies to commend and reward rescuers for their efforts.
The committee is also instructed to propose the purchase of necessary equipment for rescue operations in similar accidents.
On December 25, the Ministry of Construction has proposed in writing the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and provincial and city people’s committees to inspect the construction of small and medium hydropower projects, especially those that are building tunnel items in complicated geological conditions and have long progressed.
Any violation must be strictly handled as per regulations. Inspection results must be reported to the ministry before February 15 next year.
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