 In an attempt to appease growing resentment among farmers who lose land for development projects, the Hanoi’s People’s Committee has approved a new decision clarifying the Government’s compensation policy.
If land was deemed to have been purchased for profit, owners would only receive between VND54 million (US$2,700) and VND90 million ($4,600) per 360sq.m.
According to newly approved decision 33/2008/QD-UBND, farmers who lose 30 per cent or more of their agricultural land will be offered either non-agricultural land (residential land), an apartment or financial compensation, according to their preference.
Those who opt to be compensated in land will receive, regardless of the acreage of land that is acquisitioned, 60sq.m if their original property was in a township or suburban commune, 80sq.m if it was in a lowland commune and 120sq.m for land in the midlands.
Nguyen Duc Bien, head of the city’s Land Clearance Steering Committee, said the new regulation should clarify the Government’s compensation policy and end land speculation.
Bien added that if land was deemed to have been purchased for profit, owners would only receive between VND54 million (US$2,700) and VND90 million ($4,600) per 360sq.m.
"With this decision, the Government hopes to support farmers whose land is withdrawn and who may face difficulties once they have no land for agricultural production," said Bien.
Winners and losers
According to the decision, those who lose less than 30 per cent will have to wait until the next investors take up to 30 percent to get such compensation.
"I would not agree with the decision if I have 10 or 20 per cent of my agricultural land withdrawn and I am not compensated as those who have 30 per cent of their land withdrawn," said Nguyen Van Muoi, a resident of Yen My Village in Binh Yen Commune, Ha Tay Province, which will be merged with Hanoi on August 1.
Furthermore, only the original owners are eligible for compensation – tenants will receive no remuneration.
"We don’t know who would be responsible for compensating land owners if more than one investor were taking away parts of a single plot of land," said Tu Van Luc, who owns land in Soc Son District.
For example, say one investor takes 10 per cent of a 1,000sq.m plot of farmland, a second person takes 20 per cent and a third 10 per cent at various stages. The owner would be entitled to compensation, but which of the investors would have to pay him, Luc asked.
According to Hanoi’s Department of Natural Resources, Environment and Land, as of May 1, 2,209ha of land had been earmarked for 360 projects, of which more than 1,700ha was classified as agricultural land worked by some 28,000 households.
"The greatest difficulty when implementing the decision is how to deal with the rights of residents and investors when resolving conflicts on land compensation. The issue will be much more complicated if it is not tackled before August 1, when surrounding areas officially merge with Hanoi," said an official from the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and Land.
From August 1, "Greater" Hanoi will include the current city of Hanoi, the province of Ha Tay, Vinh Phuc Province’s Me Linh District and four communes in Luong Son District of Hoa Binh Province. The new capital will have an area of 3,300 sq.km.
(Source: Viet Nam News)
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