There are currently four clusters of flood-prevention projects underway in Saigon, all of which are still struggling to move forward with the process of land acquisition.
Construction on these projects have begun on cleared areas; however, in many places, investors and authorities are failing to meet the acquisition deadlines, VnExpress reports.
These issues were raised in a meeting between the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which oversees the projects, and the inspector team of the HCMC People's Council.
In the major US$440 million flood-prevention project, which affects 141 households in District 4, 7, 8 and Binh Chanh, land acquisition is not finalized because many investors have yet to provide compensation to the relocated households. Specifically, acquisitions in District 4 have almost finished except for two companies and one household that are still waiting for compensation money, Tuoi Tre reports.
In District 7, 16 households are listed as canal encroachment, which makes them not certified for full compensation. In District 8, there are still 13 households that are not cleared for construction, one of which is on agricultural land, which requires a different compensation rate. In Binh Chanh District, land was acquired from 40 out of 53 households affected, who agreed to receive compensation after the acquisition.
In another project, which is the embankment of Saigon River in District 2, district authorities were supposed to have cleared land for construction by March 30 last year but have yet to do so. If the lands are not handed over by 30 June this year, construction will stall.
[Photo by Huu Khoa via VnExpress]
