After more than ten years, the project is still on... paper
The Love Park project was planned for investment by Quang Ngai City (old) from 2015 on an area of more than 2ha in Tran Phu ward (now Nghia Lo ward), with the expectation of creating more green space and entertainment spots for people. According to the initial idea, couples when registering for marriage would come here to plant commemorative trees. The project was expected to be completed in 2016 but was prolonged due to many obstacles.
In December 2023, the People's Committee of Quang Ngai City (old) decided to terminate the project and redirect investment to build Chu Van An Primary and Secondary School on this land. The new direction is expected to "rescue" the abandoned land fund, creating motivation for local education development.
The project has a total investment of 154 billion VND, from targeted provincial budget support and the budget of Quang Ngai City (old). The project will start construction in early 2024, with a scale of 1.25ha, with items: Block of works serving teaching and learning, technical infrastructure system and teaching equipment to meet learning and teaching needs.
This is a high-quality inter-level school project that is the core for the education sector of Quang Ngai City (old). When completed, the school will have a scale of 45 classes, with 25 primary school classes and 20 secondary school classes. The total number of students is 1,675 (875 primary school students and 800 secondary school students); 100% of classes organize 2 sessions/day, 100% of primary school students are organized semi-boarding. It is expected that the school will enroll students for the first school year in the 2025 - 2026 school year.
However, reporters' records show that at the project, weeds grow lushly, buffaloes and cows leisurely graze, garbage is scattered. No machinery, no workers, no signs of construction.
Mr. Van Minh - whose house is located next to the project campus - said that the land area was once planned to build a Love Park, then converted into a school, located right in the center of Quang Ngai province with a location considered "golden land". However, for some unknown reason, the project after planning was abandoned for decades, causing great waste of land fund.
The project grounds are now overgrown with weeds, becoming a place to graze buffaloes and cows, and garbage dumps look very shabby" - Mr. Van Minh complained.
And still waiting for handling direction
What is noteworthy is not only the delay of a specific project, but also the management and use of land resources. The central land fund - which is considered a valuable asset of the city - has been abandoned for many years. From the idea of a park to the plan to build a school, decisions are constantly changing, but on the ground it is still just a long vacant lot.
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Ta Thanh Hung - Deputy Director in charge of operating the Quang Ngai Regional Construction Investment Project Management Board - said: "Recently, we have consulted Nghia Lo, Cam Thanh and Truong Quang Trong wards. Localities have all agreed to continue implementing the Chu Van An Primary and Secondary School project. However, it is necessary to re-examine the operating model, because the school will enroll both primary and secondary school levels.
According to Mr. Hung, this project is very necessary and was previously approved by the People's Committee of Quang Ngai City (old). However, currently, if the project is completed and handed over to the People's Committee of Nghia Lo ward, the locality is concerned that it will not be able to ensure operating funds.
Therefore, we have to prepare a report to ask for opinions from relevant agencies such as the Department of Finance, the Provincial Civil and Industrial Construction Investment Project Management Board... to advise the Provincial People's Committee to consider and give directions on this project" - Mr. Hung informed.
