Strongly withdrawing suspended projects

Specifically, the People's Committee of Hanoi City has recently issued a response to the recommendations from constituents in Dong Anh and Dan Phuong districts regarding the proposal to inspect several planned urban projects that have been planned for many years but have not been implemented, adversely affecting the rights of the people.

The response to the recommendation from constituents in Dong Anh district regarding the social housing project for low-income individuals on the land with code CT5 in Hau Duong hamlet, Kim Chung commune, which had announced land reclamation since 2010 but has not been implemented until now, the People's Committee of Hanoi City stated that this project had been approved by the People's Committee in document number 3135 dated July 24, 2012, and adjusted in document number 2019 dated January 12, 2015.

Specifically, the project's progress was approved to be delayed from the first quarter of 2015 to the second quarter of 2017. Currently, the project has not been allocated land. The investor has not carried out the subsequent investment procedures in accordance with the approved schedule.

Hanoi City's People's Committee informed that in the near future, it will instruct the Departments of Planning and Investment, Natural Resources and Environment, and the People's Committee of Dong Anh district to review and urge the investors to promptly implement the project. In cases where the investor lacks the capacity, they should advise and report to the People's Committee for consideration of project reclamation according to regulations.

Regarding the recommendation from constituents in Dan Phuong district to inspect the urban projects: Vinalines and Hong Thai urban area, which have been planned for 14 years but have not been implemented yet. The People's Committee of Hanoi City stated that the Hong Thai Urban Area project, consisting of three zones, has been assigned to the investor by the People's Committee of the former Ha Tay province, but the investor has not completed the procedures for detailed planning and investment project preparation. The project has not been authorized by the competent authority for new urban investment. The investor has not carried out land-related procedures (land reclamation, land allocation, land leasing, land clearance, etc.) in accordance with regulations.

According to the People's Committee of Hanoi City, at the end of 2022, the city's inter-agency task force has submitted a report on the results of reviewing the above-mentioned projects, proposing that the People's Committee assign the Department of Planning and Investment to lead the inspection and examination of the projects, strengthen the legal basis to propose handling measures for each specific case (considering terminating the effectiveness of relevant directives regarding project implementation).

Subsequently, the city has also essentially agreed with the study, evaluation, and classification by the inter-agency task force and assigned the task force to continue researching and clarifying the legal framework for implementing related procedures (termination, reclamation) of the projects.

Meanwhile, constituents in Quoc Oai district have similar recommendations regarding the Hoa Phu resettlement area project and the Thoi Dai Village project. In response to this matter, the People's Committee of Hanoi City stated that for the Thoi Dai Village project in Chuong My district and Quoc Oai district, the investor was assigned by the People's Committee of the former Ha Tay province, but the investor has not completed the procedures for detailed planning at a 1:500 scale and investment project preparation. The project has not been authorized by the competent authority for new urban investment, and the investor has not carried out land-related procedures (land reclamation, land allocation, land leasing, land clearance, etc.) as required by regulations.

As for the Hoa Phu resettlement area project, compensation and land clearance for an area of approximately 45.56 hectares have been completed, and some technical infrastructure works worth about 34.9 billion VND have been constructed. The People's Committee of Quoc Oai district has requested the People's Committee of Hanoi City to revoke and cancel the decision to reclaim land for the project. The People's Committee of Hanoi City has assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct an examination and propose appropriate measures according to regulations.

Strongly reclaiming projects

In June, the People's Committee of Hanoi City has taken strong measures to reclaim a series of projects both within the inner city and in suburban districts. Specifically, the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment has recently terminated the activities of the amusement park and auxiliary complex project at 151,153 Yen Phu.

Furthermore, the city has also decided to reclaim the New Urban Area projects of Me Linh-Dai Thinh, Thanh Lam-Dai Thinh 1, and Viet A, which have been inactive for over 15 years.

In March, the People's Committee of Hanoi City conducted a review and evaluation of 60 slow-progressing projects in Me Linh district, gathering opinions from departments and agencies. It was announced that over 1,000 hectares of land from 15 out of the 60 projects would be reclaimed.

In recent times, the issue of long-standing suspended projects has been a pressing problem in Hanoi City. According to a report from the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment, there are currently over 400 projects with slow progress in the city. The districts with the highest number of delayed projects are Hoai Duc (51 projects), Me Linh (47 projects), Nam Tu Liem (48 projects), and Hoang Mai (25 projects).

Out of the total of more than 400 suspended projects subjected to inspections in the past year, 96 projects have been rectified and put the land into use. 60 projects with slow progress have been granted a 24-month extension. 220 projects have committed other violations, and specific measures for handling them have been proposed. There are 29 projects recommended for land reclamation.

However, many opinions suggest that despite the fact that hundreds of projects have been suspended for 10 to 20 years, they are only now being included in the list of projects recommended for reclamation. This means that even the list of projects recommended for reclamation is also "suspended," and it is unclear when the reclamation will actually take place. The execution of tasks by the departments and agencies is perceived as sluggish, slow, and lacking determination.

The large number of suspended projects also means that millions of people are being affected in terms of their economic livelihoods and quality of life. Other businesses are missing out on business opportunities, and the government is unable to collect taxes, fees, and land usage payments from these projects.