VietNamNet Bridge – A regulation in an amended draft of the land law requires stricter control over areas used for rice cultivation, and stirred up some discussion during a recent session at the National Assembly.  

 

 

Agricultural land may be subject to stricter regulations. 

The new regulation would make it necessary for any individual or organisation seeking to change the purposes of rice cultivation land, protected forest areas or special-use forests to get permission from the prime minister.

The issue has stirred up some public concern. Le Viet Hung, Director of Dong Nai provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment disagreed with the regulation, saying that almost all land use plans are already subject to the prime minister’s approval.

“It would be rather complicated and even cumbersome if land use rights for every single metre of land designated for rice cultivation were to be at the behest of the prime minister," he noted.

NA Deputy Nguyen Thanh Thuy, from Binh Dinh Province, went so far as to suggest that such a policy could lead to further corruption.

Another NA deputy, Le Mong Diep, said that the procedures coming from such a policy could even lead to confusion, as residents of land may be able to get provisional use of land, but could have it retracted by another note from the prime minister.

However, deputy minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Manh Hien explained that the regulation was drafted with an aim to ensure national food security and environmental protection.

Apparently as a result of this public controversy the compiling board plans to create another plan that would clearly define the roles of the NA and the PM for land use rights.

Source: DTriNews