'Whistleblowing' on the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project

SEA VIEW BLOCK PROJECT

The North Lan Chau Island Resort Project in Cua Lo Town was officially "born" on February 2, 2016. This is the day the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 501/QD-UBND.DT on approving the investment policy of the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project, Cua Lo Town, Nghe An Province; and also the day the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board issued the Investment Registration Certificate with project code 3430513431 certifying the investor Golden City Joint Stock Company to implement the investment project of the North Lan Chau Island Resort, in Nghi Thuy Ward (Cua Lo Town).

On April 5, 2016, the Provincial People's Committee approved the detailed construction planning at a scale of 1/500 in Decision No. 1444/QD-UBND. More than a year later, on November 6, 2017, the Northern Lan Chau Island Resort Project had its detailed construction planning adjusted by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 5350/QD-UBND.

Before and after the entrance gate to the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The project's objective is to "Form a beautiful tourist resort, combined with synchronous infrastructure, creating a rich, environmentally friendly landscape; Contributing to providing services, tourism, and resorts for the community as well as creating a regional landscape suitable for the socio-economic development of Cua Lo town, Nghe An province".

Internal roads, sidewalks, rows of coconut trees at the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project.

On an area of ​​nearly 9.5 hectares, the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project is divided into 4 main functional blocks, including: Bungalow coastal cluster houses (divided into 5 clusters along the coastal road throughout the length of the project with 84 villas with an area of ​​80 - 180 m², with a height of 2 - 3 floors; Resort villa cluster (arranged in the Northwest of the land adjacent to Binh Minh road and the planned 30m road with 27 adjacent resort villas); Hotel block (3 blocks, 5 floors high, arranged along Binh Minh road); Tourism service block (organized alternately between 2 Bungalow clusters in the South with 2-storey coastal bar, cafe and restaurant works combined with swimming pool, trees, walking paths...); Sports block and technical infrastructure works (sports field, 1-storey service house, technical infrastructure area combined with parking lot).

The project implementation progress is stated in the Investment Registration Certificate with project code 3430513431, according to which the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project will be completed and put into use from the fourth quarter of 2019. However, on January 2, 2020, the project implementation progress was adjusted by the Provincial People's Committee. Specifically, in Decision No. 01/QD-UBND on adjusting the investment policy of the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project, Cua Lo town, Nghe An province adjusted Clause 8, Article 1 of Decision No. 501/QD-UBND.DT with the following content: "8. Implementation progress: Completing construction investment procedures: Quarter IV of 2019; Starting construction: Quarter I of 2020; Completing the project and putting it into use in Quarter IV of 2022".

Location of the Lan Chau North Island Resort Project invested by Golden City Joint Stock Company - Photo: Google Maps

RECOMMENDATION FOR INSPECTION

On April 12, 2022, the Provincial People's Council had a working session with the People's Committee of Cua Lo town under the supervision program on suspended projects, projects behind schedule and projects using land for the wrong purpose in the province. Among the projects in coastal urban areas "visited" by the Provincial People's Council, there was the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project of Golden City Joint Stock Company. The North Lan Chau Island Resort Project has been adjusted in progress, the deadline for putting into use is in the fourth quarter of 2022, which means there are still nearly 8 months left before the deadline, why did the Provincial People's Council come to inspect the site?

In fact, at this time, on the land where the Lan Chau North Island Resort Project is being implemented, Golden City Joint Stock Company has not invested in building the main buildings of hotels, villas, bungalows, etc. With such a status, at this time, the Lan Chau North Island Resort Project is of course "in the top" of projects with slow progress!

Temporary house, hanging the sign “GOLDEN WIND CUA LO HOTEL & RESORT project introduction office”. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Visiting the Lan Chau North Island Resort Project at the present time, there is no construction activity on this land. Using a flycam to record the overview, the outside of the project has been paved with terrazzo bricks, and rows of coconut palm trees have been planted; inside the project, a number of internal roads have been formed; in addition, in the southern corner of the land, a temporary house has been installed, with a signboard "Introduction Office of the GOLDEN WIND CUA LO HOTEL & RESORT Project".

Obtaining information from a competent authority, recently, Golden City Joint Stock Company has explained the reason why the Lan Chau North Island Resort Project did not ensure the progress as stipulated by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 01/QD-UBND dated January 1, 2020. Specifically, the investor's explanation is: "During the construction process from November 2019 to present, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic combined with prolonged stormy weather, the business has been severely affected, leading to difficulties in project implementation and continuous interruptions".

Investment registration certificate issued by the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board to Golden City Joint Stock Company in 2016; Decision No. 01/QD-UBND dated January 2, 2020 of the Provincial People's Committee.

However, on June 24, 2022, the People's Committee of Cua Lo town sent Document 992/UBND-DT to the Department of Planning and Investment, proposing to include the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project of Golden City Joint Stock Company in the 2022 inspection plan. The specific content of the proposal is as follows: "The North Lan Chau Island Resort Project, Cua Lo town, invested by Golden City Joint Stock Company, has been adjusted to complete the project and put it into use in the fourth quarter of 2022 (according to Decision No. 01/QD-UBND dated January 2, 2020 of the Provincial People's Committee). However, up to now, the project has only completed part of the technical infrastructure and has not yet implemented the remaining parts to promptly put the project into use in the fourth quarter of 2022. The People's Committee of Cua Lo town requested the Department of Planning and Investment to include this project in Appendix No. 1: Project proposed to be included in the inspection plan of the joint delegation. industry

I asked a responsible official to evaluate the explanation given by Golden City Joint Stock Company. The answer was: “Explaining the reason for the delay like that is an excuse. During this time, they are still implementing the project in Vinh city. Moreover, according to their explanation, other construction investment projects are also “suspended”…”.

Panorama of the North Lan Chau Island Resort Project of Golden City Joint Stock Company. Photo: Thanh Cuong