VietNamNet Bridge – A total of 1,600ha of land is to be acquired for 300 infrastructure development projects, many of which have been on hold for decades, this year, HCM City People's Council announced.

Ung Van Khiem Street in Binh Thanh Street, HCM City, floods quickly when it rains. A project to enlarge the street has been delayed for several years due to lack of money by the the investor. — Photo www.nld.com.vn

About 154 of the projects have already been allocated budgets.

One of the long-delayed projects, the Dam Sen complex in District 11, will consist of a cultural park, shopping complex, school, and resettlement homes.

The city had planned to build the project in 1983 on 50ha. But the project has now shrunk to 5.8ha after changing investors three times.

According to the city's construction department, while the project was in limbo it affected the lives of 400 households waiting to be resettled.

Other long-delayed projects include the restructure of a residential quarter at ward 22 of district Binh Thanh that was initiated 12 years ago. More than 200 households have since then been affected by floods and poor hygienic conditions.

According to the city construction department, people complain about suspended projects because the projects have involved interdictions limiting the people's use of their land. Some projects failed to give notice of the start and end dates of the construction. Those living near the projects were banned from building or renovating their houses or even transferring the rights to the land. In some areas, public infrastructure construction was also prohibited, which hurt water systems and roads.

Many projects are delayed by the incompetency of investors, their financial difficulties as well as disagreements between investors and the households (to be resettled) on compensation. Several deputies of the city's People's Council approved this land acquisition decision but questioned how unfinished projects will be dealt with. Dao Anh Kiet, director of the municipal natural resources and environment department said the city would try to find better investors for the projects or reduce the scale of projects to make them more feasible.

According to the city's People's Committee, the city's land acquisition must conform to the 2013 land law, in effect since July 2014. Inhabitants who have to be resettled will receive the current compensation rate even if their land was acquired years ago.

Under the new law, the Government will only acquire land when the households have a resettlement house secured.

About 180 days after each household is notified their land is being acquired, they will receive official notice of the amount of compensation. They will receive the compensation not later than 30 days after this. If the inhabitants do not accept the level of compensation, this money will be sent to the State's treasury.

VNS