VietNamNet Bridge – Revised land laws are expected to create a “land fund” free from disputes relating to site clearance and compensation – thus making it immediately available to bids from investors seeking land-use rights.

Buildings along the right bank of the To Lich River in Ha Noi are being cleared to carry out a sewer project.

A proposed bill revising the land laws was discussed at a conference on land compensation, support and resettlement, organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in northern Ninh Binh Province.

At the event, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Manh Hien said current policies related to land compensation, support and resettlement had shortcomings that had caused discontent, especially with those people who had land withdrawn.

The interests of the Government and the parties whose land was resumed were not adequately protected in the current laws, put in place in 2003, said Hien.

The proposed bill provided for land compensation to be implemented by the Government. Provinces and cities, which had to make their land withdrawal plans in July each year, along with their budget plans, to be approved and supervised by the people’s councils.

The proposed bill aimed to minimise the ask-and-give mechanism and to define obligations relating to building urban parks and reserves and basic infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals, car parks and residential areas.

Hien said the earlier changes in rules relating to land compensation, support and resettlement over various periods had caused complaints from those whose land was taken for projects.

Hien said that comprehensive measures should be laid down in the planning stages on land withdrawal, to take into account how financial resources would be mobilised for the purpose, such as from the likes of a land withdrawal fund, the State Budget or even a State Bond.

He said a professional organisation, such as land fund development centre, was needed to oversee land withdrawal, compensation and clearance. This centre would have expertise in all areas of land compensation and clearance, following legal regulations.

Hien added that the proposed bill would also regulate how to handle differences in land prices that occurred when projects were implemented late or construction was prolonged compared to the approved plan. The amount of land compensation would be recalculated to take account of the new situation.

Nam Dinh Province’s Natural Resources and Environment Department deputy director Vu Tien Luong said that frequent changes to policies had caused difficulties in land compensation, support and resettlement.

Ninh Binh Province Deputy Chairman Dinh Van Dien said there was a paradox in the fact that under recalculation, “some land owners who delayed handing over land may benefit from a later bigger compensation while the people who obey the policy would receive less compensation”.

Source: VNS