VietNamNet Bridge – Twenty years since the launch of the Thu Thiem new urban area project in District 2, many people amongst the 15,000 having to relocate, are still living in temporary shelters.

Many people affected by Thu Thiem project are still suffering from the poor living condition in An Phu Area. - VNA/VNS Photo Tran Xuan Tinh

The people have refused to resettle in Binh Khanh Ward. An Phu Area in District 2 is where they have chosen to construct their huts.

Nguyen Thi Lan is among them.

In 2009, her family had to move, and were compensated VND18 million (US$790). The paltry sum was not enough to buy a new apartment, so they built a house in Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province instead. Five years ago, struggling to find a stable job, she decided to return to HCM City to live with her sister in An Phu.

Le My Phuong’s family have lived there for more than seven years. She told Vietnam News Agency that her land of 187sq.m was taken for the Thu Thiem project. The compensation she was paid could only pay for a photocopier and a sewing machine, not an apartment.

With tears in her eyes, Do Thi Tuyet, another resident, said that her family used to own three houses covering 130sqm each, but they were taken for VND150 million ($6,600) in total. Two of her houses used to be tailor’s shops, with 20 workers in their heyday. Now, Tuyet’s family manages a small shop, and the earnings are just enough to cover basic amenities.

According to District 2 People’s Committee, 106 houses were sacrificed for the An Phu Area. The majority were in Thu Thiem. Local authorities persuaded 44 families to leave, but 22 insisted on staying.

Within walking distance of An Phu is the resettlement area of 17.3ha in Binh Khanh Ward.

Nguyen Bich Van moved to a new apartment for about a fortnight after six years living in An Phu. In the past six years, the whole family had to live in a house of only 21sq.m which was unbearable during hot spells and in the rainy season.

Van is still waiting for support from local authorities.

“By encouraging people to move to the resettlement apartments from An Phu, we just want to offer them better living conditions while waiting for policies to be changed. District 2 will try to handle resettlement policies for people affected by the Thu Thiem project by the end of 2018,” said a district representative.

Last week, Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of HCM City Party Committee visited the families and spoke to them about why they wanted to stay.

The residents told Nhan that they were still waiting for the conclusion of the Government Inspectorate about the various legal isues of the project, including the project’s boundary and compensation and resettlement decisions.

A special task force to determine the legal status of the project had been set up, according to Nhan.

 “If we discover something is wrong, we will admit and correct it. I will continue to meet with Thu Thiem residents until the dispute is settled. If the households are located outside the boundary of the project area, they will not have to move,” Nhan stated at another meeting on June 20.

The conclusion, which was expected on July 15, has yet to be announced, leaving the residents in another limbo.

Source: VNS