HCM CITY –  HCM City authorities have paved the way for the long-delayed US$500-million Saigon Safari Park by paying compensation for households affected by the project.

Compensation for land clearance started in 2004 but has not yet been completed, leading to the delay of the park, which would cover about 500 hectares in Củ Chi District.

About 97 per cent of the area has been revoked, but 30 households have not transferred their land, and are seeking higher compensation for their land, said Võ Văn Hoan, head of the city People’s Committee’s Administration office.

To speed up implementation of the safari park project, the People’s Committee has approved a proposal made by Củ Chi District People’s Committee to conduct a full inspection of the compensation for site clearance.

The city authority has told relevant agencies not to withdraw the surplus in compensation paid to affected households.

The city said they must pay more to the families who have received lower compensation rates, said Hoan at a press meeting on Monday (30 May).

The one-member company Sài Gòn Zoological Garden is the investor of safari park project, which affects about 700 households in Củ Chi District’s Phú Mỹ Hưng and An Nhơn Tây communes

The city authorities will try to start construction of the park in early 2017, Hoan said.

Once finished, the park is expected to become Việt Nam’s largest ecotourism facility.

It will focus on wildlife conservation and the breeding of rare plants and animals. It will include an open zoo, night safari, butterfly garden, botanical collection, natural museum, flora and fauna research centre and picnic site, as well as other facilities.

The park will be home to more than 300 animal species with 10,000 animals and 3,000 kinds of plants. — VNS