Struggling with land allocation for resettlement

Việt Nam•03/05/2024

Currently, 21 households affected by the Nghia Tu bridge approach road have not yet been surveyed, their land ownership verified, or their resettlement considered, and no resettlement land has been allocated to them. Photo: QT

Lack of land for resettlement

The Nghia Tu Bridge construction project was approved in March 2022. The investment scope includes an additional unit to the left of the existing Nghia Tu Bridge unit, part of the Co Co River Emergency Dredging, Flood Control, and Salinity Intrusion Prevention Project in Hoi An City, and the approach roads at both ends of the bridge, from the intersection with the Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc New Urban Area planning road to the intersection with the DT603B road.

The project has a total investment of 315 billion VND from the provincial budget and is scheduled for completion from 2022 to 2025. After more than two years, the Nghia Tu bridge has only completed the bored pile foundation, the M1 abutment body, and piers P1 and P2. This is because for a long period since the project was approved, the investor lacked the necessary land for construction.

To resolve the resettlement issue for the 9 households affected by the construction of Nghia Tu Bridge, the local authorities have managed to allocate 15 resettlement plots, but these are scattered across 4 different locations along the DT603B and DT607B roads.

Currently, there are 21 households affected by the Nghia Tu bridge approach road whose land ownership has not yet been assessed, whose resettlement has not been determined, and for whom no resettlement land has been allocated.

The Nghia Tu Bridge project has now completed the bored pile foundation, the M1 abutment body, and the P1 and P2 piers after a long period without available land for construction. Photo: QT

This reflects the passive approach of the management agency in calculating the land allocation for resettlement to serve the construction of the Nghia Tu bridge and access road project, as well as, more broadly, other public investment projects in the area.

In previous working sessions with Dien Ban town, the provincial People's Committee leaders also mentioned the problem that Dien Ban needs to solve: the lack of land for resettlement.

Many projects are handed over to investors solely for the purpose of subdividing and selling land plots; meanwhile, there is no land available for resettlement for those very projects. Urban areas developed by local authorities to serve resettlement purposes in Dien Ban are far too few compared to the town's development scale.

A solution is needed soon.

Returning to the Nghia Tu bridge and access road project, according to the Provincial Investment and Construction Management Board for Transportation Projects (the project's investor), the Thong Nhat residential area (Dien Duong ward) currently has 22 plots allocated for resettlement (areas A2 and A3), but is still facing obstacles with 5 households that have not yet been cleared and 1 household that has illegally expanded its property for over 2 years without resolution.

Meanwhile, the Nghia Tu urban area project (70 plots) has not yet had its construction drawings and cost estimates approved, and compensation for land clearance and resettlement has not been implemented.

Currently, the Thong Nhat residential area (Dien Duong ward) has allocated 22 plots for resettlement (areas A2 and A3), but is still facing land clearance issues. Photo: QT

Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong, Deputy Director of the Provincial Investment and Construction Management Board for Transportation Projects, proposed that priority should be given to resolving obstacles in the Thong Nhat residential area before September 30, 2024, in order to have land available for resettlement of households affected by the Nghia Tu bridge access road.

In addition, it is necessary to promptly approve the construction drawings and cost estimates, and proceed with compensation, land clearance, and resettlement for the Nghia Tu urban area to help accelerate the completion of the Nghia Tu bridge and access road project on schedule.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ha, Vice Chairman of the Dien Ban Town People's Committee, informed that regarding the Thong Nhat residential area, the local authorities and the investor are coordinating to extend the project's progress. As for the Nghia Tu urban area, the investment procedures are still underway after the project was approved in November 2023. The local authorities will strive to expedite the process to resolve difficulties in land acquisition for the project's construction.

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