Need to consider more carefully the allocation of land for construction and projects

(Baonghean.vn) - That was the issue raised at the meeting between the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council and the People's Committee of Nghi Loc district on the morning of October 6 under the program of supervising the implementation of the Resolutions of the Provincial People's Council on converting the purpose of using rice fields, protected forest land, and special-use forest land to carry out works and investment projects.

Mr. Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Party Inspection Committee, Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council as head of the delegation. Photo: Minh Chi

According to the report of Nghi Loc District People's Committee, from 2014 to present, in the district, more than 293 hectares of rice fields and protective forest land have been converted to other uses to carry out 242 projects attracting investment in the district.

Of these, 121/242 projects have been and are being implemented, accounting for 50%. It is worth mentioning that, of the 50% of projects that have not been implemented, 58/242 projects have been cancelled.

Besides, the number of projects and works being implemented has prolonged construction time, affecting production and people's lives.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai - Vice Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee admitted that there was a situation where the appraisal to propose the list of land use conversions for construction works and projects was not strict. Photo: Minh Chi

Based on the report of the District People's Committee and actual supervision at the Nghi Yen Concrete Mixing Station project and the Nghi Thiet Petroleum Depot construction project, many issues were raised by the supervision team and requested that the Nghi Loc District People's Committee clarify.

Mr. Dang Quang Hong, Deputy Head of the Economic - Budget Department, said that through monitoring, although the rate of land use after conversion of land use purposes from rice fields and forest land to serve investment projects in Nghi Loc district is higher than in other localities in the province, the rate of land use after conversion is still low.

Expressing concerns about the situation of proposing to include in the list of works and projects to convert the purpose of using rice fields and forest land to serve the project based on feelings, not close to actual needs because there is a situation of following the needs of investors, Mr. Dang Quang Hong suggested that the district should carefully consider in choosing the area, the actual land use needs to propose recovery; especially to find out the financial capacity of investors, ensuring that the converted area is used effectively.

Survey team at Nghi Yen Concrete Mixing Station project. Photo: Minh Chi

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoa - Secretary of Thai Hoa Town Party Committee, a member of the monitoring delegation, said that many projects do not meet the conditions such as not having investment approval decisions but still have a list to submit to competent authorities for appraisal and decision to lease land, grant land use right certificates to investors.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai - Vice Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee admitted that there are projects that do not have investment policies and detailed planning approval, but are still allocated land and implementing the project.

Mr. Hai also informed that the district is focusing on reviewing all works and projects subject to land use conversion to propose measures to promote land use efficiency, limiting the situation where investors want to take as much as they want and leave it there.

Nghi Thiet Petroleum Depot Project, which is subject to conversion of land use purpose for protective forest, is being promoted for implementation. Photo: Minh Chi

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee, Head of the Provincial People's Council's Economic - Budget Committee shared the pressure of Nghi Loc district, a key area for investment in many projects of the province; the requirement is to ensure the right progress, in accordance with regulations and peace of mind for the people, so the process of reviewing and completing the procedures and documents to submit to the competent authority for appraisal of land recovery and conversion of land use purposes also poses some urgency.

The Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council also stated that the general mentality of investors is to seek and choose flat, favorable land locations to implement projects; but with the responsibility of the locality assigned to manage the State on land in the area, it is necessary to clearly define the boundaries of rice-growing land and protective forests that need to be strictly protected, especially the rice-growing area, to ensure food security; from there, it is necessary to frankly criticize projects that the province attracts inappropriate investment.

“The purpose of attracting investment is also towards sustainable development and social security,” Mr. Le Hong Vinh emphasized.

Head of the monitoring delegation Le Hong Vinh concluded at the meeting. Photo: Minh Chi

In addition, the district also needs to pay attention to inspection and examination after converting land use purposes to serve constructions and projects, in order to promote the value of use and avoid land waste and overlapping project issuance.

The head of the monitoring delegation also said that, from the monitoring practice, the Economic - Budget Committee will also have opinions and proposals for the Provincial People's Council to consider, weigh and evaluate more carefully in issuing resolutions to recover and convert land use purposes for works and projects in the province in the coming time.

Minh Chi