There are currently numerous national and provincial key projects being simultaneously implemented in Dong Nai. To expedite the progress of these projects, local authorities are intensely focusing on resolving obstacles, particularly in terms of land clearance. In relation to this matter, a reporter from Nhan Dan newspaper had an exchange of opinions with Comrade VO TAN DUC, Acting Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Nai province.
Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Hong Linh and Acting Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Nai province Vo Tan Duc (far left) inspect the progress of a key project in Nhon Trach district.
Reporter: Dong Nai is often compared to a large construction site due to the numerous national projects, some of which are experiencing delays. What are the reasons behind these delays?
Mr. Vo Tan Duc: In Dong Nai province, there are currently three national key projects being implemented: Long Thanh Airport, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, and Ho Chi Minh City's Ring Road 3. Alongside these, there are 26 projects identified by the Provincial Party Committee as key projects, with significant importance and impact on the local socio-economic development.
The total allocated capital for the province's key projects and construction works in 2023 amounts to over 4,510 billion VND, accounting for 57.62% of the detailed capital allocation for the province's projects. The disbursement results for the key projects in 2023 reached 74.14% of the plan. Among them, 6 out of 18 items/projects have not yet secured disbursement of public investment capital, while 12 items/projects achieved a disbursement rate of over 95%.
The main reason is the obstacles in compensation, support, and resettlement work, particularly the changes in policy mechanisms regarding compensation when the Government issued Resolution No. 73/NQ-CP, which took effect from July 1, 2023. This has caused some district-level People's Committees to face difficulties in implementation, insufficient personnel for compensation work, and challenges in the resettlement examination process. Additionally, the lack of determination in organizing compensation work by some localities is a contributing factor to the delays in many projects.
Reporter: On the very first official working day of 2024, Dong Nai province organized a conference to demonstrate its determination to accelerate the implementation of key projects. Could you please share the main solutions that have been and are being implemented to expedite the progress of these key construction works?
Mr. Vo Tan Duc: On the first official working day of 2024, the People's Committee of the province organized an Investment Conference, during which commitments were made to expedite the progress and disbursement of public investment capital between the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province, the Chairman of the district-level People's Committees, and the leaders of the investor units.
In addition, to enhance morale, responsibility, and coordination between agencies and units in the implementation of key projects and works, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has issued Directive No. 22/CT-UBND on December 29, 2023, to expedite the progress of implementation of key projects and works in the province.
In this directive, five groups of key projects and works are identified, including: projects under construction; projects in the bidding preparation phase; projects implementing compensation and land clearance; projects undergoing investment proposal procedures, investment projects, and projects funded by sources other than the budget, in order to monitor the progress of implementation. The province conducts monthly evaluations of the implementation progress, comparing it with the previous meeting period, and identifies the causes of delays to provide guidance and solutions.
The province proactively resolves obstacles and difficulties in a timely and effective manner according to their assigned functions and tasks. It implements clear and specific mechanisms for delegation, assignment, and coordination of authority and responsibility among agencies and units in order to improve investment procedures for projects, compensation and land clearance procedures. It establishes a progress schedule for each project and master plans to monitor the implementation progress and evaluates them on a monthly basis. It promptly handles obstacles and prepares detailed disbursement plans for each project, strictly adhering to monthly and quarterly plans.
Furthermore, the province reviews and supplements human resources to carry out inventory and valuation of compensation for projects and works. It mobilizes, propagates, and persuades affected residents to actively participate in compensation and land clearance, ensuring the completion of all necessary steps. In cases of non-compliance, it enforces measures as regulated by the law. It proactively invests in resettlement areas within the province to facilitate compensation and support the relocation of projects passing through the locality.
Reporter: How do the leaders of agencies, units, and officials fulfill their responsibilities in implementing key projects?
Mr. Vo Tan Duc: In the issuance of Directive No. 22 and its implementation, we have emphasized the need to strengthen discipline and regulations in the disbursement of public investment for key projects in the province. The province recognizes that the disbursement of public investment for projects and key works is one of the central political tasks, prioritizing it in the direction and management, aligning it with the responsibilities of the heads of departments, branches, and district-level People's Committees as project investors. We enhance on-site inspections and supervision, urge contractors and consultants to expedite progress, and assign specific leaders with responsibilities to monitor the implementation progress, closely follow up, and promptly resolve difficulties while being accountable for the disbursement results of each project. This is the basis for evaluating and classifying the level of achievement of assigned tasks in 2024.
The province will also strictly enforce sanctions as stipulated by the law against project investors, project management boards, organizations, and individuals who deliberately create difficulties, obstruct, and delay the disbursement and implementation of public investment. In the immediate future, the province will promptly replace officials, civil servants, and employees with inadequate capacity, stagnation, causing disturbances and inconvenience, and firmly handle negative behaviors in the management of public investment. It will conduct inspections, checks, and strict punishment for violations during the implementation of projects and key works in the province.
Reporter: Besides the local efforts, do you have any recommendations for central agencies in terms of promptly resolving difficulties and accelerating the progress of projects?
Mr. Vo Tan Duc: In 2024 and the following stages, Dong Nai province will continue to implement a series of projects, especially large-scale transportation infrastructure. Therefore, the province hopes to receive attention, support, and guidance from the central government in addressing difficulties and obstacles, particularly those related to compensation, land clearance, and resettlement support.
Regarding the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway project, Dong Nai province proposes that the National Assembly and the Government consider and approve the decision to allocate 1,824 resettlement plots for households affected by the relocation to the Loc An-Binh Son resettlement area (the Long Thanh Airport resettlement area).
In addition, the province requests a review and solution for the source of soil and sand materials for the project. For the Long Thanh Airport project, the province proposes that the National Assembly consider approving the decision to allow surveying, planning, and implementing the phase 2 construction of the foundation concurrently with the construction of phase 1 projects. If not implemented simultaneously, when phase 1 of the airport is put into operation, the subsequent implementation of phase 2 will have a significant impact on the environment and the airport's operations.
Reporter: Thank you for your insights!