They discussed land clearance, compensation andresettlement for the airport project after hearing a Government report onseparating land clearance, compensation and resettlement tasks as a sub-projectof the Long Thanh airport project which was announced more than a decade ago.The separation is expected to accelerate the progress.
Most of the deputies agreed with the report butpointed to the need for clear procedures, capital sources and implementation processes.
Deputy Pham Thi My Thanh from Dong Nai saidplanning for the airport project was announced more than ten years ago, if itwas not implemented soon, many issues would arise such as price slippage orincreased land prices.
Land clearance had cost 23 trillion VND (1.01billion USD) from the initial estimate of 18 trillion VND, she said.
The project also affected residents living in thisarea, she said, with many worrying about what they would do after beingresettled to allow the project to be constructed.
Enterprises in the project area also faceddifficulties, she said.
Many deputies agreed, saying that land prices keptincreasing and would affect the project’s investment capital if land clearancewas not implemented soon.
Lawmakers also pointed to the need to ensureliving conditions of residents who will have land revoked to construct theairport.
Deputy Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam from HCM City saidcareful studies should be made so affected residents have better livingconditions after being relocated.
“It is necessary to consider many issues for theresidents when they are relocated such as employment and education for theirchildren,” she said.
Land clearance and compensation should becarefully discussed and supervised as the project covers more than 5,000ha, shesaid.
Many deputies also noted that while waiting forLong Thanh airport to be constructed, investment should be poured intoimproving the capacity of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City, whichthey said is currently overloaded.
The 336.7 trillion VND (16 billion USD) Long ThanhInternational Airport project was approved by a majority of the NationalAssembly deputies at the 13th NA’s ninth session in 2015.
It is expected to reduce the load on neighbouringTan Son Nhat Airport.
The airport will be able to handle 100 millionpassengers and five million tonnes of freight a year. The investment will comefrom various sources, such as the State budget, Official Development Assistanceand corporate capital.
The project has been divided into three phases.The first phase, expected to be completed in 2025 and handle 25 millionpassengers and 1.2 million tonnes of freight a year, includes the constructionof a runway, a terminal and supporting infrastructure.
Following the approval, the NA issued a resolutionasking for detailed plans for the construction, including site clearance,compensation, employment and re-settlement and support for those who would bedisplaced.
Earlier the same day, deputies discussed the draftrevision of the Law on Legal Aid.
They agreed on the importance of revising the lawto tackle existing shortcomings in legal aid and create a legal framework tomake legal aid activities more professional while effectively using resourceswhen providing legal services.
They proposed mobilising social participation forlegal aid to reduce the burden on the State budget.
Deputies also touched on the need to reviewpractical demands, anticipate resources for law enforcement in accordance withthe country’s socio-economic situation, and ensure the regulations’feasibility.-VNA