Recommend withdrawal of inappropriate or prolonged projects

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of October 10, the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council had a meeting with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment according to the program to supervise 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 in the 3 years 2014 - 2016.

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 chaired the meeting. Photo: Mai Hoa

According to the report of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in the 3 years 2014 - 2016, the total land area allowed to change the purpose according to the planning is 3,492 hectares of rice land; 1,326 hectares of protective forest land; 26 hectares of special-use forest. Based on that planning, the Provincial People's Council issued 5 Resolutions allowing the conversion of the purpose of using rice land, protective forest, and special-use forest to serve 2,871 projects.

Specifically, converting 3,000.44 hectares of rice land; 243.42 hectares of protective forest; 5.71 hectares of special-use forest.

However, the area put into use after conversion is low, including 824.13/3,249.57 hectares converted, accounting for more than 25%. And the number of projects and works implemented is only 1,006/2,871 projects subject to land use conversion, accounting for 35.04% of the projects.

It is noteworthy that out of 2,871 projects and works permitted by the Provincial People's Council to change land use purposes for implementation, 331 projects and works have not been implemented and have not been registered for further implementation.

Mr. Vo Duy Viet - Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, admitted some shortcomings and limitations. Photo: Minh Chi

From the monitoring practice of some localities and through the report of the Department, at the meeting, the members of the monitoring delegation requested the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to clarify many concerns related to the appraisal work. Raising concerns about the low rate of project implementation as well as land use after conversion, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoa - Secretary of Thai Hoa Town Party Committee, a member of the monitoring delegation requested the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to clarify the responsibility of the sector in the appraisal of land use needs of each project; the projects included in the list submitted to the competent authority have ensured the conditions according to regulations; the work of completing and checking the implementation organization.

Mr. Vo Duy Viet - Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, admitted that the conversion of land use purposes to implement important projects and works in the province still poses some shortcomings and limitations.

The direct supervision team at the Southern bus station project, after 8 years of land allocation, the project has now stopped. Photo: Minh Chi

Regarding responsibility, Mr. Viet said that the Department is an intermediary agency in compiling the list and appraising it, but the direct responsibility for planning, land use planning and proposing a list of projects to reclaim or convert land use purposes is from the district level.

On the other hand, it is also the responsibility of the sectors, reflected in the stages of accepting investment policies, approving detailed planning, determining the scale and area of ​​the project (by each sector and field).

Mr. Viet also added that although there has not been any specialized inspection or examination of projects and construction works using land after conversion of purpose, every year the Department conducts inspections according to the industry's plan, including this content, and conducts surprise inspections according to petitions and press reports.

Mr. Le Hong Vinh concluded at the conference. Photo: Minh Chi

Concluding the meeting, in addition to pointing out some shortcomings, inadequacies, and even loopholes, 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 requested the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to strengthen propaganda, disseminate laws, organize training and guide districts to do well in planning and annual land use plans, especially proposing a list of works and projects to change land use purposes close to reality.

The Head of the Economic - Budget Committee of the Provincial People's Council also requested the Department to assess the impact of works and projects on socio-economic development, social security, and environmental protection. The process of consulting and appraising proposed works and projects must ensure full implementation of regulations. Strengthen inspection, examination, and overall review of works and projects, including transfer projects, thereby recommending the withdrawal of inappropriate or prolonged projects...

Minh Chi