Vinh City Government affirms people's land rights

(Baonghean.vn) - 'This is people's land, not defense land. People's rights to land are exercised according to the law', Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee Le Sy Chien affirmed in a dialogue with people of Nghi Lien commune.

» The petition of Nghi Lien commune people (Vinh city) is legitimate!

» Implementing detailed zoning plan for Nghi Lien commune (Vinh city): Listening to people's wishes

The dialogue with the people of 3 hamlets: 9, 10, 17 (Nghi Lien commune) was organized by Vinh City People's Committee at the cultural house of hamlet 9. Also attending the dialogue were representatives of Vinh Airport, Vinh Airport Battalion, representatives of relevant departments and a large number of people. Mr. Le Sy Chien - Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee chaired the dialogue.

People from 3 hamlets: 9, 10, 17 of Nghi Lien commune participated in the dialogue. Photo: Nhat Lan

Clarifying many contents

Due to the "erasure of place names" on the draft detailed zoning plan of Nghi Lien commune, in July 2017, people in 3 hamlets: 9, 10, 17 of this locality petitioned the competent authorities to clarify the fact that in 2015, the Ministry of Transport approved the adjustment of the planning of Vinh Airport in Decision No. 347/QD-BGTVT, in which it was stated that the land of the 3 hamlets was military land, and putting it into the planning affected the people's legitimate rights and interests in land.

Before the dialogue, on behalf of Vinh City People's Committee, Mr. Le Sy Chien hoped that the people of the 3 hamlets would share their opinions because up to now, the city government has not responded to the petition. The reason for this delay is because the petition's content is complicated, some petitions are related to many levels and sectors; in addition, some related agencies outside the area have not had good coordination to resolve the work...

Mr. Le Sy Chien - Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee affirmed the rights of people in hamlets 9, 10, 17 of Nghi Lien commune to the land currently in use. Photo: Nhat Lan

Mr. Le Sy Chien discussed that on the morning of October 2, Vinh City People's Committee had a working session with relevant agencies to clarify many important issues related to the people's petition. Thereby, it was clarified that the land area that the state granted land use rights to Vinh Airport was 5 hectares; Vinh Airport Battalion was 128 hectares.

In 1997, Vinh Airport Battalion was approved by the competent authority for land use planning.

However, this is a planning for land use needs, which has not been allocated land by the state administrative agency (here the Provincial People's Committee) according to the provisions of law. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that this is only a planning for military use needs, which is only a premise for this unit to carry out procedures to submit to the competent authority for research and consideration.

According to Mr. Le Sy Chien, the city government determined the reasons for the petition of the people of the 3 hamlets. Firstly, the more than 238 hectares of land that the people are using were left by their ancestors, but Decision No. 347 of the Ministry of Transport stated that it was military land; secondly, the draft detailed zoning plan of Nghi Lien commune did not include the names of the 3 hamlets.

Regarding the detailed zoning plan of Nghi Lien commune, Mr. Le Sy Chien affirmed that it is only a draft, and is in the process of soliciting public opinions. It is because the consulting unit carried out this process that people learned about the loss of the "place name".

After receiving this information, the consulting unit corrected the error and returned the names of the three hamlets to the project. Up to now, the project has not been approved by the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee and has not been reviewed and approved by the City People's Committee for submission to the competent authority.

Regarding the land of the people of 3 hamlets left by their ancestors, which has long been used as housing, farming, and gardens... Nghi Loc district and competent authorities have issued land use right certificates. Therefore, it is affirmed that this is land of the people, not defense land.

People's rights to land are exercised in accordance with the provisions of law. For example, dividing plots, donating, buying, selling, transferring... people have the right to exercise normally. Vinh City People's Committee strictly prohibits the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and related departments from restricting people's rights to land when there is no decision to reclaim the land.

Regarding the land information in the Decision to adjust the planning of Vinh Airport Cluster, stating that the land of 3 hamlets is "military land", Vinh City People's Committee also determined that this is "misleading" information, so after the dialogue, there will be a written recommendation to the Provincial People's Committee requesting the Ministry of Transport to make appropriate adjustments.

Nghi Lien commune officials and residents of hamlets 9, 10, and 17 participated in setting up boundary markers on September 30, 2017. Photo courtesy of Kim Chi village

Mr. Chien also informed that, regarding the land boundary of 3 hamlets with Vinh Airport, up to now, Nghi Lien Commune People's Committee has reported to the City People's Committee that it has been basically completed, only the starting and ending points have not been completed, and need to be further clarified.

Regarding Vinh Airport building a fence on land managed by Nghi Lien commune, with an area of ​​6.3 hectares. Nghi Lien commune People's Committee also reported in detail to the City People's Committee, requesting the City to direct the handling.

The opinion of Nghi Lien Commune People's Committee is that in case Vinh Airport has a need to use land, it is necessary to carry out related procedures according to the provisions of law and submit them to the Provincial People's Committee for approval. Regarding this content, Vinh Airport's side has the opinion that there are still issues that need to be clarified, so Vinh City People's Committee will consider this content in the coming time.

At the same time, the Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee affirmed that the city government will pay attention to investing in essential infrastructure in the three hamlets to ensure the rights of the people here are equal to those of other residential areas in Nghi Lien commune.

Lessons in land use planning

At the dialogue session on the afternoon of October 2, 2017, most of the people in the three hamlets were very happy with the information exchanged by the Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee. However, there are still concerns and recommendations. That is, Nghi Lien people have been citizens of the city for 10 years. Although the infrastructure has been invested in more spaciously, the land use right certificate is still shown to be issued by Nghi Loc District People's Committee. Therefore, it is recommended that Vinh City People's Committee direct relevant departments and Nghi Lien commune to coordinate to speed up the issuance and exchange process for the people.

In addition, when the Ministry of Transport adjusted the planning of Vinh Airport Cluster in 2015, not only the people in the planning area but also the relevant departments, branches, Vinh City People's Committee and Nghi Lien Commune did not grasp the information. This means that the Ministry of Transport did not fully implement the procedures prescribed by law when implementing land use planning. Therefore, it is recommended to review the legality of the planning to ensure or not?

Mr. Le Ngoc Nam - representative of the people of 3 hamlets: 9, 10, 17 Nghi Lien commune raised some issues that people are still concerned about, asking Vinh City People's Committee to clarify. Photo: Nhat Lan

Regarding the expansion plan of Vinh Airport, it is affirmed that this is a major project of great importance in the socio-economic development of the city and the province. And the policy to implement this plan is also originated from Decision No. 52/QD-TTg dated January 14, 2015 on the approval of the adjustment of the general planning of Vinh city by the Prime Minister.

However, due to the fact that the project implementation process of the agencies under the Ministry of Transport has not been fully implemented according to the provisions of law, in addition, there is inaccurate information about the origin of the land that people are managing and using, leading to frustration and petitions.

Therefore, the concerns of the people of the 3 hamlets raised by their representatives are well-founded. This is truly a valuable lesson in the implementation of land use planning, which needs to be considered and answered thoroughly. Only then can the rights of the people as stipulated in the Land Law and related laws be guaranteed, and consensus can be created among the people, thereby achieving the socio-economic development goals of the city and the province.

Nhat Lan