Today, March 13, at the headquarters of the People's Committee of Trung Giang Commune (Gio Linh District), Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam chaired a dialogue with 24 business households affected by the Trung Giang Commune Community Beach project. Attending the dialogue were leaders of departments, branches, localities and representatives of 24 households.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam delivered a concluding speech at the dialogue - Photo: Le Minh

The Trung Giang Commune Community Beach Project is part of the Project on Developing Tourism Infrastructure to Support Comprehensive Growth in the Greater Mekong Subregion Phase 2 - Quang Tri Province Sub-Project (hereinafter referred to as the project), implemented in the communes of Trung Giang, Gio Hai and Cua Viet town, Gio Linh district. The project is invested by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism with loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and counterpart funds; the implementation cost is over VND 258 billion, of which the loan capital is VND 217.049 billion; the implementation period is from 2018 to June 30, 2024.

Representatives of households speak out their wishes - Photo: Le Minh

During the project implementation, there were difficulties in supporting assets for 24 households providing food and beverage services affected in the area where the Trung Giang Commune Community Beach project was being implemented.

Previously, from 2007 to 2019, the People's Committee of the commune agreed to lease or borrow premises for 24 households to do food and beverage business along the coast south of Cua Tung bridge. By the time of construction of the Trung Giang Commune Community Beach project, there were 6 households with land lease contracts until 2024 and 18 households whose land lease contracts had expired.

In the land lease contract between the People's Committee of Trung Giang commune and the households, there is a clause committing to self-demolish the property when the State reclaims and implements works and projects.

However, according to the law, the Trung Giang Commune People's Committee's act of leasing land to households was not within its authority. In addition, the households all committed to voluntarily dismantle their assets when the State reclaimed and implemented works and projects. Therefore, they were not eligible for property compensation.

During the site clearance process, Gio Linh District People's Committee applied the legal regulations on land, 24 households were not compensated for land and property but were supported for property on the land. At the same time, they conducted an inventory of property on the land and developed many support plans such as support from 17% - 20% of the property value; support from the project's surplus fund is 3.6 billion VND/24 households.

However, 24 households did not agree with the level of support for property relocation offered by the local government. The wish of the 24 households is to apply the provisions in Clause 4, Article 6, Decision No. 26/QD-UBND dated October 27, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee promulgating regulations on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State acquires land in Quang Tri province with a maximum support level of 50% of the unit price prescribed by the Provincial People's Committee at the time of the acquisition decision.

At the dialogue, leaders of departments, branches, localities and households discussed the legal value of the land lease contract signed between the People's Committee of Trung Giang commune and 24 households; conditions for applying the support policy on assets on land according to Decision No. 26 of the Provincial People's Committee.

Many opinions say that the case of 24 households does not meet the conditions to apply according to Clause 4, Article 6, Decision No. 26 of the Provincial People's Committee, but there are also many contrary opinions. Clause 4, Article 4, Decision 26 stipulates that "For houses and other construction works located within the scope of land acquisition by the State but not eligible for compensation, they will be considered for support; the maximum support level is equal to 50% of the unit price prescribed by the Provincial People's Committee at the time of the decision on acquisition".

Speaking at the dialogue, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam affirmed: The goal of the project is to develop marine tourism, serve livelihoods, improve people's lives; the direct beneficiaries are local people.

In the process of implementing site clearance in general and this project in particular, the Provincial People's Committee always directs the full application of legal regulations in the direction of ensuring the best interests of the people, limiting damage to people when affected by works and projects.

Based on the wishes of the people and the opinions of the leaders of departments and branches, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam decided to apply legal regulations under permitted conditions, using the exclusive authority of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to support the damage to households in order to minimize damage and stabilize their lives and businesses.

Accordingly, Clause 8, Article 18 of Decision No. 26 of the Provincial People's Committee will be applied to support households. Clause 8, Article 18 of Decision No. 26 stipulates: "In addition to the prescribed support, in necessary cases, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall decide on other support measures to ensure accommodation, stable life, production and fairness for people whose land is recovered. Special cases shall be submitted to the Prime Minister for decision".

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam requested local authorities to develop support plans that ensure fairness; departments and branches are responsible for reviewing, developing, and appraising plans in accordance with legal regulations, ensuring the rights of households.

Based on the conclusion of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam, 24 households presented their opinions in agreement with the proposed plan.

Le Minh