Resettlement land price is 4 times higher than land compensation price
Sharing with Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Le Van Luc (66 years old, Tan Phu Residential Area, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City) said that his house was affected by the entire land area of about 3,000m2 by the Can Tho - Hau Giang Expressway project, part of the North - South Expressway Construction Investment Project in the East phase 2021 - 2025.
“I was given 4 resettlement plots and support to buy 1 resettlement plot. However, the land use fee when handing over the resettlement plots is too high, from 14.5 to 21.6 million VND/m2 (depending on the plot location). If my family pays for infrastructure and builds a house in this resettlement area, we will be left empty-handed,” said Mr. Luc.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hien (60 years old) was confused and said: "After hearing the land price of 14.5 million VND/m2, I feel very uneasy. I hope the state authorities will carefully review and have a suitable price for people to settle down." According to the sharing of the households here, previously, the People's Committee of Cai Rang District (Can Tho City) allocated resettlement land to the households and told them to build houses to live in. At this time, the People's Committee of Can Tho City has not yet made a decision on the land use fee collection price for resettlement houses. These households have received compensation for land with the lowest price of 4.5 million VND/m2 and the highest price of nearly 8 million VND/m2 (urban land).
By August 23, 2023, Can Tho City People's Committee issued Decision No. 1952 approving the land use fee collection price for resettlement areas. The lowest land price is 14.5 million VND/m2 and the highest is 21.6 million VND/m2 (depending on location).
These households said that with the above land price, they have to pay on average 4 times the compensation... Therefore, they cannot have enough money to buy and build a house to live in. The households are in a deadlock, not knowing how to have more money to buy resettlement land.
Proposal to review land prices
Faced with the above situation, 40 households in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City affected by this highway project have submitted a petition to the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, and the Government Inspectorate with the content of requesting to review the land price for households to be resettled when the State reclaims land to implement the above project. These households said that the unit price for resettlement land allocation is many times higher than the unit price for compensation for residential land.
“We are aware that this is a national key project, necessary for the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta. Therefore, we have complied with the land handover so that the State can quickly implement the expressway project. However, the impact of the project on us is too serious, even disrupting our lives, primarily due to the resettlement settlement” - dozens of households who signed said.
Regarding the above issue, the Petition Committee (Committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee) has sent Official Dispatch No. 582 to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City. Accordingly, the Petition Committee forwarded the petitions of 40 households in Cai Rang District to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City for consideration, direction to resolve within the authority, in accordance with the provisions of law, respond to citizens and report the results of the resolution to the Petition Committee to perform the task of supervising the resolution of complaints and denunciations of the National Assembly Standing Committee.
According to Mr. Phan Thanh Hoang - Deputy Director of the Project Management and Land Fund Development Board of Cai Rang District, Can Tho City, the procedures for valuation are in accordance with regulations and processes. However, the method of comparing with market price and interest rate is not suitable for people whose land is affected by the project.
“The price of 7.5 million VND/m2 is appropriate, ensuring the rights of the people. In the near future, the Board will advise the District People's Committee, synthesize all opinions and recommendations of the people to the city for consideration and resolution,” Mr. Hoang added.
