On the morning of August 12, the inspection team of the provincial People's Council had a working session with Bien Hoa Municipal People's Committee and concerned agencies. The session was to discuss the implementation of the support program of electricity and water prices for poor households, workers, laborers and students living in boarding houses within Bien Hoa city.
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The inspection team has a working session with Bien Hoa city
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The report of Bien Hoa city shows that 8,345 households within the city are boarding house owners, providing 55,686 boarding rooms. 116,308 house boarders are students and workers. 63.3% of 8,345 boarding houses have been granted electricity consumption quotas. Approximately 70.2% of those living in boarding houses have enjoyed the support program of electricity prices. In terms of the water consumption quota granting program, Dong Nai Construction and Water Supply Company has just implemented it since July 2009. As a result, only 256 households have been granted approximately 1,000 quotas (4 people/ quota).
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Inspection is being conducted in quarter 6, Long Binh ward
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The inspection tour in Long Binh ward shows that there have been some changes since boarding house owners were granted electricity consumption quotas. But in reality, many boarding house owners have charged a higher electricity price than the stipulated for their benefits or affected the benefits of the beneficiaries by raising water prices. Ms. Nga, a boarder in quarter 6 of Long Binh ward said: “Before, I paid VND2,500/ kWh and I did not have to pay for the first five cubic meters of water. Now, electricity price goes down to VND1,500/ kWh but I have to pay VND3,000 per a cubic meter of well water”. On behalf of the inspection team, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung – Head of the Department of Culture and Society of the provincial People's Council said that local authorities and functional agencies would enhance their inspection and handle boarding house owners’ deliberate violations. Simultaneously, he emphasized that house boarders themselves should be courageous enough to raise their voice and sign boarding house owners’s violation report to ensure that they would enjoy their benifits.
On August 13 and 18, the team will continue its tour of inspection in districts with a lot of boarding houses such as Long Thanh, Nhon Trach, Trang Bom and Vinh Cuu.
(Reported by Lien Huong, Translated by Duy Minh)
