Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee dialogues with citizens related to the National Highway 1A expansion and upgrade project

Also attending were comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of the Provincial People's Procuracy; Provincial People's Court; Provincial Inspectorate, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Justice, Department of Construction, Department of Transport, Provincial Citizen Reception Committee; leaders of localities where citizens filed complaints.

727 HOUSEHOLDS HAVE COMPLAINTS

National Highway 1A through Nghe An province has a total length of 73.8 km, passing through 5 districts, towns and cities including: Hoang Mai town, Quynh Luu district, Dien Chau district, Nghi Loc district and Vinh city..From 1994 to present, there have been two major projects to expand and upgrade National Highway 1A, including: National Highway 1 Restoration Project from 1994 to 1996 (PMU 1 Project) and National Highway 1A Upgrade and Expansion Project from 2010 to 2015.

Overview of the dialogue between the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and citizens. Photo: Pham Bang

For the project in the period of 2010 - 2015, the number of affected households that must prepare compensation plans is 4,897 households and individuals. The land area that must be recovered for site clearance is 144 hectares. This project completed site clearance for the entire route before April 15, 2014; The cost of compensation for site clearance up to April 15, 2014 is 910 billion VND.

During the project implementation process, many cases of land being granted illegally in the traffic safety corridor were discovered.(after December 21, 1982, the time of promulgation of Decree 203-HDBT of the Council of Ministers on promulgating regulations on road protection); many cases have been granted land use right certificates, causing difficulties in compensation and site clearance support. At the time of project implementation, the province's policy was not to compensate for the land area cleared during 1994-1996 (under PMU1 Project).

Leaders of the Provincial Citizen Reception Committee reported on the content of the petition and the results of handling citizens' complaints and petitions. Photo: Pham Bang

After the Project was completed, many citizens filed complaints and lawsuits to government agencies and People's Courts at all levels, requesting compensation for the land area of ​​households located within the National Highway 1A traffic safety corridor that was cleared during the implementation of the National Highway 1 Restoration Project in 1994-1996 (PMU 1 Project), but had only previously been compensated for property, not for land.

On November 30, 2016, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 5989/QD-UBND establishing an interdisciplinary working group to review the content of citizens' complaints. According to the report of Working Group 5989, 678 households submitted petitions to State administrative agencies; 49 households filed lawsuits in court.

The process of resolving citizens’ petitions has encountered many difficulties and problems related to mechanisms and policies. The Provincial People’s Committee has established a working group to review and learn from other provinces’ experiences, and has sent many documents requesting opinions from the Prime Minister and central ministries and branches.

Citizens made recommendations and asked authorities to resolve the issue. Photo: Pham Bang

The Provincial People's Committee has proactively issued many directive documents to remove difficulties and obstacles in handling petitions and making compensation plans to support cases affected by the National Highway 1A expansion and upgrading project. The implementation process has received direction and guidance from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Based on the proposal of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, the Prime Minister has agreed to provide additional funding from Government bonds for Nghe An province.(for the section from Cau Giat to Vinh City).As of December 31, 2020, the entire amount of VND 222,388 billion in government bond capital has been disbursed and transferred to localities to complete payment procedures for citizens.

On February 4, 2021, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung had a working session with departments, branches and localities to discuss and resolve existing problems and difficulties in handling petitions on compensation for site clearance for the National Highway 1A expansion and upgrading project. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned specific tasks to the units and requested them to respond to citizens and report to the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and branches before March 31, 2021.

RESOLVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS, ENSURE CITIZENS' RIGHTS

At the dialogue, 3 citizens, including Mr. Dinh Van Tung, Mr. Nguyen Ba Hien, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung (all residing in Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc) presented the content of their denunciation and complaint, and at the same time requested the Provincial People's Committee to completely resolve the content of the denunciation and complaint in accordance with regulations, because the case has lasted for many years.

Representative of the Provincial People's Court spoke at the dialogue. Photo: Pham Bang

The leaders of the Provincial Citizen Reception Committee reported on the content of the citizen's petition and the process of handling the petition; the leaders of Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu districts and Hoang Mai town also reported on the process of handling the petition, and explained and clarified the contents of the citizen's additional accusations and complaints. The representative of the Provincial People's Court requested that in cases where there is a verdict from the High Court in Hanoi, citizens should strictly comply with the verdict.

Regarding the complaint of 3 citizens in Nghi Long commune (Nghi Loc), the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee concluded that, based on the opinions of citizens and relevant agencies, the Provincial People's Reception Council found that complaints about rights had been considered, handled and resolved many times by all levels.

However, up to now, citizens have not agreed with the resolution of the levels and have filed lawsuits in court, which have been tried by the Provincial Court and the Supreme Court, with a verdict. Therefore, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requests citizens to comply with the court's verdicts. The Provincial People's Committee will ensure the rights of citizens in accordance with the correct procedures and legal regulations.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the dialogue. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the content of citizens' denunciations of violations related to the implementation of procedures for land acquisition and compensation for the project through Nghi Loc district, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that Nghi Loc district had made a decision to resolve the issue, but the citizens did not agree with the district's resolution.

Therefore, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Provincial Inspectorate to continue reviewing and clarifying the contents of the citizens' denunciations, resolving them thoroughly, and reporting to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee before April 15, 2021 to respond to the citizens. Nghi Loc District must also review cases requiring additional compensation to notify the citizens.

For your complaintTruong Bach Giang and Mr. Truong Phuoc (both residing in Hamlet 1, Dien Truong Commune, Dien Chau District), Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung said that the case had been resolved by the People's Committee of Dien Chau District. Currently, the two citizenshas filed an administrative lawsuit at the Provincial People's Court and the court has accepted it. Therefore, we request that citizens and the People's Committee of Dien Chau district provide complete records and documents to the Provincial People's Court for resolution. Based on the judgment of the Provincial People's Court, the Provincial People's Committee will implement it in accordance with regulations and authority.

Mr. Tang Van Luyen - Chairman of Dien Chau District People's Committee reported the results of handling citizens' complaints and petitions. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the complaint filed by Mr. Truong Bach Giang representing 27 households residing in hamlets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Dien Truong commune, Dien Chau district, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Chau district has issued a Decision to resolve the complaint. On that basis, if citizens do not agree with any content, they can make a second complaint to the provincial level or file a lawsuit in court.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung also responded to the complaint of Mr. Ho Huu Doc (residing in Hong Tien village, formerly village 2, Quynh Hong commune, Quynh Luu district). The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that Mr. Doc's complaint had been resolved at both the district and provincial levels. Currently, Mr. Doc has filed an administrative lawsuit at the Provincial People's Court and the Provincial People's Court has accepted the case at first instance (No. 128/2020/TLST-HC dated November 5, 2020). Therefore, citizens are requested to provide records and documents to the Provincial People's Court for resolution. Based on the judgment of the Provincial People's Court, the Provincial People's Committee will comply with regulations and authority.

Citizen Ho Huu Doc (residing in Hong Tien village, formerly village 2, Quynh Hong commune, Quynh Luu district) presents the content of his complaint. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the complaints and recommendations of Mr. Dinh Van Hoan, Ho Sy Lai, and Vo Duc Tron (all residing in Hoang Mai Town), regarding the content of 79 households in 2 wards (Mai Hung, Quynh Thien) who are eligible to prepare compensation records but have not yet received compensation, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee hopes that people will share that due to many objective and subjective reasons, the compensation payment to the people has not been completely resolved. According to regulations, the compensation fund comes from the source of the BOT investor and for the investor to arrange this fund, the project's financial plan must be adjusted and approved by the Prime Minister.

In order to have funds to pay people soon, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town to review the subjects eligible for compensation and support according to the guidance of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment but have not been considered for settlement in 2020, accurately and in detail determine the missing compensation and support funds, and report before March 31, 2021. The Department of Transport urges, synthesizes, and advises the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Ministry of Transport and the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

Representatives of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment expressed their opinions at the dialogue. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the petition of 51 households in Quynh Xuan ward (Hoang Mai town),The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town to preside over and establish an interdisciplinary working group, inviting representatives of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Transport, Department of Finance, and project investors to participate in coordinating the review and collection of documents; based on legal regulations and actual conditions to handle difficulties, ensuring a plan to determine the boundaries and affected land areas of households eligible for compensation and support. This content must be responded to citizens and reported to the Provincial People's Committee, relevant departments and branches before March 31, 2021.

At the dialogue, after listening to citizens presenting the content of their complaints and denunciations, based on the opinions of departments, branches, and Nghi Loc district, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested citizens: Hoang Van Hong (Trung Son hamlet, Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc); Nguyen Dinh Tai (Kim Lien hamlet, Vinh city, complaining on behalf of Ms. Dang Thi Thu Hai, Trung Son hamlet, Nghi Long commune) and Dang Doan Ngo (Nam Son hamlet, Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc), ifIf there is any disagreement with the content of the complaint settlement decision of Nghi Loc District People's Committee, a complaint, with documents and evidence, can be sent to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or the Provincial Inspectorate for consideration and settlement of the second complaint according to regulations, or citizens can file a lawsuit directly with the Provincial People's Court for settlement according to their authority.

Citizens residing in Nghi Loc district present their complaints. Photo: Pham Bang

Regarding the complaint of Mr. Truong Van Tong (Trung Son hamlet, Nghi Long commune), Chairman of the Provincial People's CommitteeAssign Nghi Loc district to resolve the first complaint regarding the content of the complaint Decision No. 2781/QD-UBND dated August 10, 2020 of the Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee terminating the land use rights of Mr. Truong Van Tong's family with an area of ​​195.9 m². Regarding the complaint about the compensation price applied for the wrong type of land, the Provincial Inspectorate shall preside over and advise the Provincial People's Committee to resolve the second complaint according to regulations.