VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will focus on dealing with land-related violations and speeding up administrative reforms in the sector this year.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will focus on dealing with land-related violations and speeding up administrative reforms in the sector this year. — File Photo

The ministry acknowledges that introducing administrative reforms in the field is imperative to meet the demands of the people and businesses, Minister Nguyen Minh Quang told the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of New Years 2015.

Since the 2013 Land Law came into effect in July 2014, land-related administrative procedures have been reduced from 41 to 30 so far, Quang said.

He said that the ministry will pay more attention to inspecting the enforcement of laws related to land, minerals, water resources, and biodiversity in localities throughout the country this year.

Quang further noted that the move aims to identify shortcomings of current laws, which could hinder localities from getting them enforced, and fxing them.

At an online meeting held by the ministry last Wednesday, the ministry was also asked by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai to cooperate with relevant agencies this year to work out more suitable solutions with regard to land acquisition, clearance, compensation, and resettlement, to minimise disputes and complaints in the sector.

The ministry was also asked to complete the legal document system on managing natural resources and environment this year.

In addition, the draft law on Sea and Island Resources and Environment should be submitted to the National Assembly in May for approval, the deputy prime minister said.

According to a ministry report issued in late December, the ministry received 3,926 land-related complaints last year and has established 535 teams to inspect them.

The environment ministry seized 1,286ha of land and revoked 102 rights certificates for land use in 2014.

VNS