In the Middle Ages, the castles were where the royal family lived. They live together under the protection of bodyguards, soldiers … Today, the old castles are often renovated into museums. Only a handful of people choose to live in a castle like Yulia. She was born in Russia but raised in Germany. Currently, Yulia lives and works in Spain. While in Germany, Yulia had the experience of living in a castle built in 1482. The castle was not owned by Yulia, but she lived there for 2 years. The reason is that Yulia and her husband suggested the castle owner let them live here. In return, they will repair and renovate the castle. When Yulia first arrived at the castle, things were still medieval. For example, the interior space is kept warm with wood and there is no running water. According to Bored Panda, the castle looks intact despite many battles. It is not as flashy as the fairytale castles, but it is enough for the Yulia couple and 6 cats to live. Since there is a large forest around the castle, cats can freely go foraging. Yulia said she still provided them with adequate food. Even the money Yulia spent to buy food for 6 cats is more than it is spent on herself. Since coming to live in the castle, Yulia has remodeled many things, starting with the kitchen. She bought an oven and installed a sink. Water for daily life is well water. In addition, electricity sometimes flickers. The Russian girl admits that life here is no different from the Middle Ages. According to Yulia, the couple never intended to modernize the castle. They simply repaired small things like doors and balconies, installed telephone lines and the Internet and blocked holes to prevent mice and bugs from entering. Responding to Bored Panda, Yulia said she could not complete the castle renovation while living here. Since this is a historic site, major renovation projects need to go through many levels of management. Currently, a part of the castle is being used as a hotel for people working remotely. In the photo, the interior is used by Yulia for the renovation. She made her own bed and kitchen cabinets out of wood. Yulia’s cats love to stay near a fireplace in winter. According to Yulia, when winter comes, indoor temperatures can drop below 8 degrees Celsius. In summer, the temperature in the castle is not better (about 40 degrees C). Another difficulty is that many wild animals often appear around the castle. “People shouldn’t think only rich people live in castles. Not many people live a few nights here,” she said. The castle inherently has a toilet inside. The toilet repaired by Yulia looks like a wooden chair with an ashtray beside it. The zipper on the picture is not for draining but to call the servant to clean. To drain the water, you will have to rush it. Yulia loves everything related to the Middle Ages, and her dress reflects that. “If you are having mental problems, leave modern life and try to be like your ancestors. Spend extra time on yourself instead of getting into the cycle of work,” she said.

Long Dinh water reservoir has been completed but the water plant system is still in progress, making the islanders still “thirsty” for clean water.

Students in particular and people in general of Quan Lan pearl island, Van Don district, Quang Ninh province “thirst” for clean water.

Thousands of students lack clean water

Up to now, the domestic water source of the people of 2 communes Quan Lan, Minh Chau on Quan Lan island only depends on rain water and well water. In the face of saline intrusion, water resources in many villages of Quan Lan such as Tan Phong, Tan Lap, Yen Hai … are seriously polluted and polluted.

The situation of islanders who are “thirsty” for “hot” water is when the local smokeless industry has developed over the past decade. The tourist peak season is also the time when clean water is scarce. Many restaurants and hotels do not dare to welcome guests due to lack of water.

Mrs. Bui Thi Thi, Tan Phong village, Quan Lan commune shared, her family also has a well but cannot use it. She often has to buy clean water to use. Each block of water costs from 85 to 90 thousand VND depending on the time. Therefore, the monthly money for using clean water is several hundred to million dong. For many years, the clean water factory has not been put into use, people wish to use clean water.

Pham Thi Xuyen from Tan Phong village said that her family currently has 4 people. The house has dug wells for use but the water quality is poor. Family is only used to wash clothes, wash hands and feet. She has to buy water for cooking. Each month of saving use also takes about 5 blocks of water.

Out of 8 villages of Quan Lan commune, only 2 villages ensure clean water. Households use rainwater tanks or dig wells. But most of it is salty or polluted. Many households have wells that cannot be used for eating and drinking … Particularly, Tan Phong village has about 200 households, over 600 people, of which only about 60% of households have storage tanks. Most of them lack fresh water for daily use in the dry season.

It is worth mentioning, more than 1,000 students from 3 levels of education in Quan Lan Island often lack clean water to use. Especially, with preschool when children spend all day on school, water shortage is a problem that the school and locality have been concerned about for many years.

Since 2014, Van Don district has built and renovated Long Dinh water reservoir (Tan Lap village, Quan Lan commune), with a total investment of 109 billion VND, design capacity is about 1 million m3. By 2017, this reservoir has been completed and the main pipeline system across the sea and distribution pipelines to the central points have been completed.

However, the project of a water supply plant and a water distribution system serving the people and tourists on Minh Chau island, Quan Lan on the side of Tham Gia Trade Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company (Company Tham Gia) is not yet completed. Therefore, after 4 years of completing the reservoir, this project has not been able to supply clean water to the people of the island commune.

Mr. Luu Minh Duc – Chairman of Quan Lan Commune People’s Committee, said the lack of clean water for daily life makes all activities of the people limited. At present, Long Dinh reservoir invested by the district has been completed and handed over to Yen Lap Irrigation One Member Limited Company for management.

With the water supply plant project and the clean water distribution system, there are still problems related to the approval of the factory on the location of the land under the management and exploitation of Viglacera Van Hai Company (under Viglacera Corporation, Ministry of Industry and Trade). Build).

Slow because of “overlapping” with Viglacera Van Hai Company

According to the research, the project of a water supply plant and a water distribution system serving the people and tourists on Minh Chau and Quan Lan islands was decided by the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province to invest in 2017 with the scale of capacity. 4,000m3 / day and night.

The project has a total area of ​​over 28 thousand m2, total investment of 30 billion VND includes: Water supply plant located in Nam Hai village, Minh Chau commune; the water supply pipeline is located in Minh Chau and Quan Lan communes. Up to now, the cluster of key projects, siphons and irrigation water supply systems have been completed. Particularly, the domestic water supply system is in progress.

According to the People’s Committee of Van Don district, the domestic water supply project invested by Tham Gia Company has completed the installation of a water pipeline from the water supply plant to Minh Chau and Quan Lan communes. The company has signed a contract to buy and import all synchronous equipment of the factory together with the equipment installation. However, Tham Gia Company has not been able to build water supply plant items because the plant is located within the boundary of the mineral exploitation license of Viglacera Van Hai Company.

Facing the above situation, on October 1, 2020, the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province reviewed the report of the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on the closed area of ​​the mine. Return a part of the Van Hai sand mining area of ​​Viglacera Van Hai Company, including the construction of the water plant mentioned above.

On March 18, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Decision No. 464 / QD-BTNMT approving the mine closure project. Return a part of the white sand mining area at Van Hai sand mine of Viglacera Van Hai Company.

Parallel to the proposal to close a part of the area for the implementation of the water supply plant, the Management Board of Van Don Economic Zone has worked with the investor, Tham Gia Company, to focus on resources for construction. so that June 2021 can put the factory into operation.

Mr. Tham Hong Son, director of Tham Gia Company, said that the water treatment plant project has just been “untied”. The company will execute the rest of the work. By the system, synchronous equipment has been made waiting only when the company is present to install it. Regarding the project progress, Mr. Son affirmed that by June, the factory will be put into operation to serve the people on the island.