Land clearance for projects

Compensation and land clearance work in Lai Chau faces many practical difficulties and obstacles. It's not just about compensation prices or administrative procedures; it's also about achieving consensus, legal complexities, and concerns about the long-term livelihoods of people after land acquisition. Every square meter of land not handed over means a part of the project is stalled. Therefore, land clearance becomes a crucial step, directly influencing the progress, investment efficiency, and ability to attract resources.

The project to upgrade and renovate Provincial Road 128, a Group B, Level II transportation project with a total investment of 350 billion VND, is managed by the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board. It has been implemented through packages 6, 7, and 8 and has reached approximately 85% completion. The goal is to complete all items and put the project into operation before June 30th. However, progress still faces the risk of delays as land clearance is not yet complete, especially in package 6, which is only over 70% complete, with more than 10 households still not agreeing to the compensation plan. The main obstacles relate to unit prices, relocation support, and resettlement arrangements. The lack of cleared land is causing construction interruptions, increased costs, and the potential for cost overruns, directly impacting the goal of completing the project on schedule.

Through on-site investigations by reporters, it has been evident that the progress of many projects has been significantly affected due to the untimely handover of land. Numerous construction projects have been delayed or even temporarily halted, such as the road and urban land connecting the former headquarters of Doan Ket Ward People's Committee to Road No. 17 in Quyet Tien Ward; the Giang Ma Reservoir project; the Tam Duong town road (formerly); and the project connecting traffic between the northern mountainous provinces; and the Hoang Lien Pass road tunnel...

Mr. Pham Trung Nghia, Deputy Head of the Traffic Construction Management Department (Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board), stated: The delay in land clearance has directly impacted the investor's management role. When land is not handed over on schedule, the entire construction plan, capital allocation, and project implementation are disrupted. Many items have to be adjusted, extending the timeframe, incurring additional costs, and increasing management pressure. Not only does it affect the efficiency of capital utilization, but the delay also impacts the investor's reputation in fulfilling commitments to stakeholders. Therefore, promptly resolving land clearance issues is identified as a key factor in ensuring the project's progress, quality, and overall effectiveness.