Government proposes new mechanism for North-South high-speed railway

TPO - The government has proposed separating the compensation, support, resettlement, and relocation of power plants with voltages of 110 kV or higher into independent projects, with funding allocated from the central and local budgets.

On the afternoon of December 4, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on the proposal to supplement mechanisms and policies applicable to the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis.

Presenting this content, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh stated that the Government submitted this to the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to include it in the general resolution of the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly.

Accordingly, the Government proposes separating the compensation, support, resettlement, and relocation of power facilities with voltages of 110 kV or higher into independent projects, with funding allocated from the central and local budgets.

Local authorities and the Vietnam Electricity Corporation are the competent bodies responsible for planning, deciding on investments, and implementing compensation, support, and resettlement projects in their areas. Investment in related items does not require the preparation of an investment policy.

Proposing a new mechanism for high-speed rail on the North-South axis.

Accordingly, central government budget funds will be directly allocated to localities and the Vietnam Electricity Group for implementation; in cases where the central government budget has not yet been allocated, localities are allowed to proactively balance their local budgets to implement the projects, and the central government will reimburse them after the funds are balanced.

Another proposal is that, during non-convened sessions, the National Assembly will authorize the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to consider and decide on supplementing and adjusting specific mechanisms and policies, especially for investment methods (if any), in order to promptly implement projects and report to the National Assembly at the nearest session.

Reviewing this matter, the Chairman of the Economic and Finance Committee, Phan Van Mai, stated that the National Assembly's decision to allow the separation of land acquisition, compensation, support, and resettlement aspects of a nationally important project into a separate component project has a precedent, namely the Long Thanh International Airport project. Therefore, the Government's proposal is well-founded.

However, the reviewing agency suggested considering separating it into an independent component project and assigning the Government to direct localities, ministries, and sectors to prepare feasibility studies to ensure consistency and uniformity; while clearly defining the total investment, land area to be acquired, and completion schedule.

Regarding the proposed authorization, Mr. Mai cited several National Assembly resolutions and argued that proposing such a policy was unnecessary.

At the conclusion of the session, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly requested the drafting agency to incorporate the opinions expressed at the session, finalize the document, and submit it to the National Assembly as soon as possible.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/chinh-phu-de-xuat-co-che-moi-cho-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-bac-nam-post1801870.tpo