A report prepared by the Ha Noi Department of Natural Resources and Environment says many other projects that have received land allocations are being implemented at snail's pace.

Nguyen Van Tu, Chairman of the Nam Tu Liem District said that his administration detected 53 projects committing various violations, with 31 having about 70ha sitting idle.

"Land lying waste has frustrated local residents, because some of the plots enjoy prime locations, like the 70,000m2 allocated to the Kinh Bac Group in Me Tri or the 1,600m2 allocated to the Song Hong (Red River) Joint Stock Company.

"That's not all, many pieces of land have become dumping sites or venues for social vices."

During a recent inspection, the Ha Noi People's Council found that 20 projects were behind schedule in Tay Ho District, 46 organisations had violated the 2013 Land Law in Hai Ba Trung District, and 24 violations were committed by different companies in Cau Giay District.

Land use and land management have been a contentious issue in Ha Noi for many years and municipal authorities have issued what they say are tough land use policies and increased project inspections.

Dao Tang Quynh, Chairman of the People's Committee in Me Tri Ward, said that the ward, part of Nam Tu Liem District, had five "suspended" projects.

"The delay in project implementation has caused many difficulties for authorities in convincing local residents to settle in other places so as to allocate land for new projects.

"At present, Nam Tu Liem District is facing a big problem of finding land to build 23 public schools and other facilities following the separation of old Tu Liem District (into the two districts of Bac Tu Liem and Nam Tu Liem)," Quynh said.

Revocation difficulties

In working sessions with inspectors from the City People's Council, leaders of all districts wanted city authorities to revoke land use rights from projects that are unduly delayed, and reallocate them to build schools or public utilities.

In the 2009-14 period, the Ha Noi Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued 63 decisions to revoke more than 17 million sq.m of land from 59 organisations for various violations of the Land Law.

Following results of recent inspection visits, the department has proposed that municipal authorities revoke about 138,000sq.m of land. As a result, by mid-April 2015, 400,000sq.m had been revoked and earmarked for building schools and other facilities.

To speed up the land revocation process, Nguyen Van Nam, director of the City People's Council's Department of Economics and Budget, suggested that the city increase IT applications in land management.

"This is the best way to help the public monitor land information disclosure and avoid project land lying idle because owners lack the financial capacity to operate their projects," Nam said.

VNS