Need to consider extending Giang Son Hot Mineral Spring Resort Project

(Baonghean) -Giang Son hot spring is located close to National Highway 15A, 14 km from Do Luong Town, about 6 km from milestone 0 in Lat Town (Tan Ky), very convenient for organizing tours in the province. Giang Son hot spring tourist area (Do Luong) will be an important highlight in the Vinh - Kim Lien Relic Site - Do Luong - Milestone 0 Tan Ky - and Pu Mat Community Ecotourism route.

On March 30, 2011, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 960/QD - UBND.DT on approving the Planning of Giang Son Hot Mineral Water Tourist Area in Do Luong District for Ha An Investment, Trade and Tourism Joint Stock Company.

Giang Son hot mineral spring tourist area is still pristine.

According to the approval, Giang Son Hot Mineral Water Ecotourism Area will be built on an area of ​​160 hectares with the function of tourism exploitation business to serve the needs of entertainment and relaxation. Also according to Decision 960-QD/UBND.DT, Ha An Investment, Trade and Tourism Joint Stock Company is responsible for completing the relevant procedures to start construction within 12 months; put into use within 36 months from the effective date of this decision. The local Party Committee and authorities from the district to the two communes of Giang Son Dong and Giang Son Tay have actively participated in speeding up the progress to hand over the site to the investor. After a period of measurement and counting, all human resources participating in the site clearance work have made every effort to complete the handover of the site on the construction area of ​​the central area, which is the first item of the project.

To facilitate investors, in 2012, the People's Committee of Do Luong district issued a document requesting households in the project area not to build new houses, renovate or expand works. Currently, 37 households affected within the clearance area, many of whom want to build new houses, renovate degraded works to serve their daily life but have not been granted a construction permit... However, up to now, the investor has not made any move to implement the investment here. After 36 months since the Provincial People's Committee signed the approval decision, the project is still "inactive", the investor has not made any move. On November 11, 2013, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 8048/UBND - CN on extending the project implementation time. Accordingly, it is agreed to extend the implementation period of the Giang Son Hot Mineral Water Tourism Area Project in Do Luong District of Ha An Investment, Trade and Tourism Joint Stock Company until the end of 2022.

Considering that extending the project is not feasible, and may cause loss of investment opportunities for other investors and waste natural resources, and loss of tourism development opportunities. On December 13, 2013, the People's Committee of Do Luong district issued Official Letter No. 1400/UBND.TN requesting the revocation of the investment license for the Giang Son Hot Mineral Water Tourism Area Project. The request document clearly stated: According to Investment Certificate No. 27111000078 dated June 13, 2011 of the Provincial People's Committee, the first phase from 2011 to 2013, the contents to be implemented include many items. However, through the actual implementation of the first phase up to the present time, it shows that: The compensation for site clearance has been completed by the People's Committee of Do Luong district, and a detailed compensation and support plan has been established for affected households. The total compensation and support cost is up to 77.5 billion VND. However, up to now, the company has not allocated funds to organize the implementation and has not implemented any items. The delay of Ha An Investment, Trade and Tourism Joint Stock Company in implementing the project in Do Luong district has caused resentment among the people.

Discussing this issue, Mr. Hoang Nhat An - Head of Foreign Economic Affairs Department - Department of Planning and Investment said: "Considering the contractor's capacity, the number of years extended will be proportional to the project life cycle, for example, if the project takes 8 to 10 years to complete, it will be extended for 3 to 4 years, if the project life cycle is only 1 to 3 years, it is usually only 18 months". Thus, the fact that Ha An Company was extended for up to 8 years is unacceptable.

Mr. Trung Thanh Cong - Deputy Chief of the Provincial People's Committee Office said: "Based on the investor's request, considering that the investor's capacity does not meet the project's construction requirements at the present time. Moreover, at this time, no investor has registered to invest in the construction of Giang Son Hot Mineral Water Resort, so the Provincial People's Committee agreed to extend the contract for this unit. However, due to the request of the Do Luong District People's Committee and considering the feasibility of the project, we are planning to establish an interdisciplinary team from now until the end of the year to review the investor's capacity, and will revoke the investment license for the investor, Ha An Investment, Trade and Tourism Joint Stock Company".

Thus, it can be seen that the extension of a project that has not properly implemented its investment certification commitment unintentionally prolongs the suspended project, hinders opportunities for other investors, wastes resources, and undermines people's confidence in the project they have expected and supported.

Thanh Nga