VietNamNet Bridge – The long-awaited US$500-million project Saigon Safari in HCMC’s Cu Chi District has remained where it was 12 years ago due to delays in site clearance and construction of resettlement areas for affected people.

City authorities in May announced that Vinpearl Joint Stock Co, a subsidiary of Vietnamese realty conglomerate Vingroup, had been chosen as the investor of the Saigon Safari project, which was initiated in 2004.

According to a report the HCMC Department of Planning and Investment sent to the city government early this month, the big-ticket project is expected to cover nearly 457 hectares in the outlying district. The city has approved three compensation and site clearance plans worth nearly VND620 billion (US$27.8 million) for 705 households, in which 246 families have registered to live in resettlement areas.

Up to 688 households have received compensation from authorities while 17 others have yet to move. Notably, residents have illegally occupied 335 hectares of land including 95 hectares used by HCMC Dairy Cattle Co. for planting rubber trees.

Besides, around 130 households still bemoan low compensation, legal problems in compensation rate calculation and slow housing relocation.

According to Vinpearl’s proposal, the park would be home to rare and valuable animals of Vietnam and other parts of the world. It will have nine sections including an administrative center, a theme park, day and night safari zones, a zoo, and an area for conferences and museum.

SGT