Need to improve responsibility in approving and appraising investment policies

(Baonghean.vn) - Some districts have not yet established plans for infrastructure development investment or have not supplemented or adjusted them in a timely manner, leading to the allocation of investment capital not being linked to key local economic development and important projects related to people's lives on a large scale.

These were the contents mentioned at the working session of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council with the Provincial People's Committee on the afternoon of March 29 according to the program of supervising the construction work using the state budget.

Comrade Cao Thi Hien - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council spoke at the meeting. Photo: Mai Hoa

According to the affirmation of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Huynh Thanh Dien, in the 2 years of 2015 - 2016, the investment in construction and development in the province was governed by the Law on Public Investment, the Law on Construction, the Law on Investment and a series of Decrees, Circulars of the Central Government and newly issued documents of the Provincial People's Committee towards tightening management, tightening public investment and decentralizing more strongly to sectors, districts, cities and towns on planning, site selection and investment license management.

Accordingly, investment in construction and capital allocation are carried out in accordance with the principles, prioritizing debt repayment projects, unfinished projects to complete, key and urgent projects, and limiting new construction.

The province has also taken many measures to mobilize capital and convert investment forms for a number of projects, contributing to removing obstacles and ensuring that projects continue to be implemented and put into use.

However, before 2015, due to the "open" investment mechanism, there were some backlogs, most notably large backlogs of construction investment debt. The backlog of construction investment debt of provincial-level projects managed by December 31, 2014 was more than 1,512 billion VND. In particular, the backlog of construction investment debt belonging to district and commune budgets was large but there was no plan to handle the debt repayment.

Comrade Huynh Thanh Dien - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee explained and clarified a number of issues raised by the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council. Photo: Mai Hoa

Based on practical supervision in a number of sectors and localities, the supervision delegation of the Provincial People's Council Standing Committee also raised many issues arising from the grassroots. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong said: The review to allocate capital for a number of projects and regions is not close to reality. For example, in Con Cuong district, there is currently a need to build a rigid bridge across the Lam River to create connectivity and development for the district and the two routes Bong Khe - Binh Chuan; Mau Duc - Thach Ngan have been under construction for many years but have not yet been allocated medium-term capital; meaning that these projects will still take a long time to invest.

The allocation of capital for construction investment has not been in accordance with the principles, priority has not been given to debt repayment projects and there are still many newly started projects. Some districts have not yet established plans for infrastructure development investment or have not supplemented or adjusted them in a timely manner, leading to the allocation of investment capital not being linked to the development of key local economies and important projects related to people's lives on a large scale...

Agreeing with the opinions of comrade Hoang Viet Duong, comrade Cao Thi Hien - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council also pointed out the situation of many projects adjusting their projects exceeding the total investment by 100 percent; the situation of prolonged capital advances but contractors do not complete the volume to pay debts...

The monitoring delegation of the Provincial People's Council Standing Committee surveyed the Phuong Tich bridge project (Nghi Loc). Photo: Mai Hoa

From pointing out the shortcomings and limitations in investment in construction, the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council requested the Provincial People's Committee to strictly direct the management of construction investment and payment of construction capital according to the documents of the Central Government. Pay attention to directing sectors and localities to review planning and investment plans for infrastructure construction in conjunction with the planning and socio-economic development plans of sectors and localities, creating an environment for synchronous economic development with clear focus.

Enhance responsibility in the work of appraising and approving investment policies, investment decisions...; avoid and limit the addition and adjustment of projects and total investment, causing inadequacies in capital allocation and overdue debts in construction investment. It is necessary to review, update and research solutions to resolve overdue debts in construction investment./.

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