VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked seven provinces and cities to complete land clearance and resettlement so that construction work can begin on two highway projects running between Noi Bai and Lao Cai and Ha Noi-Hai Phong.

The Noi Bai-Lao Cai National Highway under construction. The project is unlikely to meet its deadline due to the delay in land clearance.

According to the PM's urgent calls, the two projects are facing a high risk of failing to meet their deadlines due to the delay in land clearance.

Regarding the planned 245km Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway, which was given the green light in July 2009, Dung asked northern localities including Ha Noi, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Yen Bai to hand over cleared land for the project by the end of this month.

Ha Noi has the responsibility of clearing the city's Tan Dan Commune, which is an area earmarked for construction, and settling compensation-related disagreements with nine households there.

Vinh Phuc Province needs to complete the construction of resettlement areas so that people can move out of their houses on the project land. When this is achieved, electrical lines and telecommunication cables can be removed in five communes.

This province also need to focus on solving disputes regarding compensation and land with local people, as do Phu Tho and Yen Bai.

The projected 105km Ha Noi-Hai Phong Highway is facing similar delays and PM Dung has asked Ha Noi, Hai Duong and Hung Yen to reach agreements with households to accomplish land clearance and to work out compensation plans.

The PM stressed that chairmen of the people's committees of these cities and provinces should enforce effective measures to prevent people encroaching onto project land and delaying the developments further.

Source: VNS