VietNamNet Bridge – Concerns have been raised over the lack of progress in reforming management of State-owned buildings and land used by public agencies in the capital city.

The Ha Noi People's Committee has been accused of failing to effectively control the use of land and buildings allocated to public agencies, social organisations and State-owned companies in the city.

In 2007, the Government issued Decision 09/2007/QD-TTG on management of public land used by public agencies, social organisations and State-owned corporations.

The land was mainly used to build office buildings, staff housing and other facilities to serve their operations.

However, many of the beneficiaries have violated regulations on use of public land or used the land ineffectively, leading to calls for closer oversight and stiffer punishments for violations, including revocation of land-use rights for serious violations.

According to the city's Finance Department, until last year, 20 ministries, agencies and social organisations as well as 16 State-owned corporations based in Ha Noi filed reports on use of allocated land.

The total number of office buildings in use by public agencies came to 1,527 buildings, among a total of 2,307 premises in use.

Beneficiaries were also asked to submit their recommendations on more effective use of the allocated land. The municipal People's Committee has been tasked with deciding on whether to extend these land-use rights.

However, for the last six years, out of 2,037 cases, only 1,147 have been approved. This means the committee still has a backlog of 1,160 cases.

Last year, only 222 recommendations for better use of allocated land were approved by the municipal People's Committee.

Vice head of the city's Finance Department Pham Cong Binh said that there was a huge amount of work to do on reviewing and adjusting land use by public agencies.

He said public assets have not been managed properly for a long time, and consequently, many offices and companies used the allocated houses and land for the wrong purposes.

Some even rented out the land to other organisations or individuals, he said, adding that more complicated problems arose when rental contracts were still valid and renters had invested a great deal of money in the premises.

Vice chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen Huy Tuong said the city aimed to speed up review of public land use this year.

In case beneficiaries had land-use rights certificate revoked due to violations, part of the land would be allocated for other uses or auctioned, which would add funds to the city's budget, he said.

Source: VNS