The National Assembly agreed to pay off outstanding debts for basic construction of the National Highway 1 expansion project through Nghe An province.

Panorama of the working session on the morning of November 29 at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House. Photo: Nam An

Accordingly, the National Assembly agreed to add VND 1,275 billion in investment spending for Nghe An province from the increased central budget revenue in 2022 to resolve compensation for site clearance (including delayed payment) of the National Highway 1 expansion projects through Nghe An province under the central budget tasks arising after these projects are finalized.

The National Assembly assigned: The Government is responsible for the content of the proposal, the accuracy of information, data, and legal basis when implementing it, only paying for obligations under the State's responsibility, ensuring that no complaints arise.

Previously, on November 21, 2023, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly issued a Notice of Conclusion on the Resolution of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies on investment in the construction of road traffic works and a number of related issues.

In this announcement, the National Assembly Standing Committee agreed that it is necessary to pay off outstanding debts for the basic construction of the National Highway 1 expansion project through Nghe An province and the Ho Chi Minh Road bypass project through Chu Se district, Gia Lai province.

Regarding the policy of allocating additional revenue from the central budget in 2022 to pay for the site clearance costs of the National Highway 1 expansion project through Nghe An province, it is proposed to include it in the Joint Resolution of the 6th Session of the National Assembly. Regarding the payment of site clearance costs for the Ho Chi Minh Road project bypassing Chu Se district, Gia Lai province, it is proposed that the Government consider allocating capital to promptly resolve difficulties and problems for the people, avoiding prolonged complaints.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other leaders and former leaders of the Party and State at the working session on the morning of November 29 at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House. Photo: Nam An

The project to upgrade and expand National Highway 1A through Nghe An province has a total length of 73.8km, passing through Hoang Mai town, the districts of Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc and Vinh city, invested with government bond capital and BOT form.

Since the project was implemented, with the attention of the Central Ministries and branches, Nghe An province has resolutely directed the site clearance work, mobilized the entire political system to participate in propaganda, advocacy, and dialogue to resolve citizens' rights, handle difficulties and problems, and has received the support of the majority of the people.

Secretary General of the National Assembly - Head of the National Assembly Office Bui Van Cuong presented the Report on explanation, acceptance and revision of the draft Resolution of the 6th Session, 15th National Assembly and the draft Resolution of the 6th Session. Photo: Nam An

The project was completed on schedule as required and put into use at the end of 2014, bringing about socio-economic development efficiency, reducing traffic congestion, ensuring smooth traffic flow for the North-South traffic artery. In 2016, the Ministry of Transport completed the settlement of investment component projects using government bond capital; in 2019, the settlement of investment component projects under the BOT form was completed, including the settlement of site clearance sub-projects.

National Highway 1A through Hoang Mai Town. Photo: Thanh Cuong

However, due to the fact that during the implementation process, some issues related to site clearance were not thoroughly resolved, after the project was completed, many citizens filed complaints to authorities at all levels and People's Courts at all levels requesting compensation for the land area of ​​households located within the traffic corridor that was cleared during the implementation of the PMU1 Project in the period of 1994 - 1998, but had only previously been compensated for assets on the land, not for the land.

Based on the proposal of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, in 2020, the Project was granted an additional amount of VND 222,388 billion from Government bond capital to prioritize cases of land use before 1982, eligible for compensation according to the provisions of law (concluded through the settlement of petitions and complaints).

National Assembly delegates from Nghe An at the working session on the morning of November 29 at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House. Photo: Nam An

However, households affected by the project but have not yet received compensation continue to complain. In order to have a source of funding to continue paying, ensure the legitimate rights of citizens and completely resolve the situation of prolonged complaints regarding the project's site clearance, the Provincial People's Committee has sent many documents to the Ministry of Transport to review and report in detail the affected cases, eligible for compensation and support. On that basis, the Ministry of Transport is requested to consider and submit to the Government to allocate additional funds to pay for households.

Through the contact activities of voters of National Assembly deputies at constituency No. 3 (Quynh Luu district and Hoang Mai town), the National Assembly Delegation of the province forwarded voters' opinions to the Ministry of Transport before the 2nd Session and after the 3rd Session, recommended that the Ministry report to the Prime Minister for consideration and early allocation of additional funds as requested by the People's Committee of Nghe An province as a basis for payment to people whose land was recovered.

Based on the guidance of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on determining the area of ​​land to be compensated, the Provincial People's Committee has actively coordinated with the Ministry of Transport to complete the inspection and review of the proposed additional data to pay households as of December 31, 2022, which is 1,282.52 billion VND. Based on the opinions of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, relevant ministries and the proposal of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the Ministry of Transport has proposed to the Prime Minister to allow additional site clearance funds to increase by 1,282.52 billion VND of the project from the excess revenue in 2022 to arrange for Nghe An province to pay to the people and the Government assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to consider and handle according to regulations, and report on contents beyond their authority.

National Assembly delegates from Nghe An at the working session on the morning of November 29 at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House. Photo: Nam An

After the 5th Session, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation continued to forward voters' petitions to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment for consideration and reporting to the Prime Minister on the allocation of funds for site clearance for the Project to upgrade and expand National Highway 1A, section through Nghe An, and the two Ministries paid attention and resolved it promptly.

In the Government's submission on the draft Resolution on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies on investment in the construction of road traffic works submitted to the 6th Session, the 15th National Assembly clearly stated the necessity of allocating capital from the excess revenue of the central budget in 2022 directly to localities to pay people, with a total amount of 1,275 billion VND (the difference of nearly 8 billion compared to the initial proposal is the operating cost of the organization in charge of compensation and site clearance arranged by the province itself).

At the 6th Session of the 15th National Assembly, the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province continued to express opinions on this issue in discussion sessions.

On that basis, the National Assembly decided to include this content in the Resolution of the 6th Session instead of the Resolution on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies on investment in the construction of road traffic works.

On the morning of November 29, after listening to the Secretary General of the National Assembly - Head of the National Assembly Office Bui Van Cuong present the Report on explanation, acceptance and revision of the draft Resolution of the 6th Session, 15th National Assembly and the draft Resolution of the 6th Session, the National Assembly voted to pass this Resolution.

The electronic voting results showed that 477 delegates participated in the vote in favor (accounting for 96.56%). Thus, with the majority of delegates participating in the vote in favor, the National Assembly officially passed the Resolution of the 6th Session, 15th National Assembly.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/quoc-hoi-thong-nhat-thanh-toan-cac-khoan-no-dong-xay-dung-co-ban-cua-du-an-mo-rong-quoc-lo-1-doan-qua-tinh-nghe-an-post280762.html