Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, faced with questions from National Assembly deputies today over public concerns and rampant violations in the areas of land and environment management, suggested changes to the legal corridor and stricter enforcement of the law.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha says tighter legal enforcement will ward off environment, land violations

Issues raised by deputies covered a wide range, from land price fever, rumored acquisition of land by foreigners and encroachment on public land to the control of possible factors leading to environmental pollution. Minister Ha said such issues could be addressed by amending regulations to keep up with reality, and by enhancing legal enforcement, the latter requiring collaboration from provincial or municipal governments.

During the question-and-answer session, land management regarding the forthcoming establishment of special economic zones again resurfaced as a haunting issue.

No land acquisition by foreigners

Upon a question on how to harness the land price fever in the planned special economic zones and peripheral areas, the minister said his ministry has submitted proposals to put land prices under check, especially in and around the special economic zones.

To keep land prices under control, there must be efficient economic tools to resort to, Minister Ha said. “For example, (we should regulate) how much land a person can acquire, and if land is not put to use after three years, the tax will be higher. These contents should be included in the forthcoming amendments to the Land Law,” he said.

Asked by Deputy Phung Duc Tien whether the ministry was aware of foreigners having reportedly acquired houses or land in areas of the special economic zones, Ha said prevailing laws ban foreigners from purchasing land or houses, giving them the rights to buy apartments only. “The Government has instructed relevant agencies to launch inspections, but have found no houses or land being purchased by foreigners,” he said.

Coastal corridors encroached

Another hot issue is the people’s access to the sea having been denied by resort owners and other enterprises.

Deputy Truong Trong Nghia said the fact that enterprises and investors encroach on the corridors along the sea and the river is illegal on one hand and infringe on the people’s right on the other as access to the sea for swimming has been denied.

Deputy Phan Van Hoa seconded Nghia’s opinion, saying many coastal resorts have set up barriers, preventing the people from crossing to the sea. Hoa is worried that this infringement may recur at the special economic zones in the future.

In response, the minister said corridors along the sea and the river have been regulated in the Law on Water Resources, so “there is no need to issue new regulations, but to enhance enforcement.”

Minister Ha stressed that violators will be punished, adding the ministry will also review the current laws to see if any loopholes remain.

“Under prevailing regulations, all the people have the right to enjoy the sea environment. However, to safeguard such a right, it is necessary to have the intervention of local authorities,” he said.

Environment concern

Asked by Deputy Hoang Quoc Thuong whether the ministry could ensure steel maker Formosa would not cause any major environment hazard in the future, Ha said a new set of environment surveillance has been imposed over Formosa. “Preventive measures apply in three layers: on the production line, inside the factory, and outside the factory… Tight management will ward off any possibility of environmental pollution,” he said. 

Deputy Nguyen Ba Son observed that three steel manufacturing plants in Danang have caused both air and water pollution, but there is still a scheme to relocate the Vietnam-France Steel Plant to an upstream area in Danang and Quang Nam. “What is the solution to this?” Son asked the minister.

In response, Ha said regulatory standards on discharge and environmental protection are available to deal with violations, so “the question is not where the steel plant will be located, but whether such projects meet standards and criteria on environmental protection.” He however admitted that Danang should have a suitable location for such steel plants, since having such a project upstream will pose difficulties for control.

SGT