Appeals related to land issues occur due to inadequate and unclear land withdrawals, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said at an online conference on receiving public opinions yesterday in Hà Nội. — Photo baotainguyenmoitruong.vn

HÀ NỘI — Appeals related to land issues occur due to inadequate and unclear land withdrawals, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said at an online conference on receiving public opinions yesterday in Hà Nội.

A report by the Government Inspectorate showed that between 2012 and 2015, State administrative bodies received more than 1.5 million complainants, a 4.3 per cent decrease compared to the previous period; and dealt with 778,700 cases, including over 18,300 cases involving groups of complainants.

The Government Inspectorate pointed out that the majority of mass appeals originated from previous years and had yet to be resolved. Many cases were addressed in line with law but people continued to complain.

Complicated cases mostly involved compensation for site clearance or land withdrawal for development projects.

According to the Government Inspectorate, laws related to land issue have been improved but in many cases, relations between the State, investors and land users have not been harmonious, whereas weaknesses are still found in certain land policies.

The number of petitions associated with land withdrawal, compensation for site clearance did not decrease as compared to the period before the Land Law 2013 came into effect.

Addressing the event, PM Phúc said the country had seen a decline in the number of appeals and petitions but an increase in cases involving many people over the past four years, particularly in Hà Nội and HCM City.

The Prime Minister requested authorised bodies clarify the reasons behind the rise and seek solutions.

“It is necessary to grasp that up to 70 per cent of administrative complaints were related to land issues, of which 40 per cent were involved with the withdrawal of land for resettlement.

“Is the land withdrawal for resettlement a major cause behind increased mass appeals?”

“Numerous complaints are related to compensation. If we continue sticking to the previously-defined land price, it will be impossible to ensure minimum living standards,” he said.

“Resettlement must ensure a life equal to or better than the previous inhabitation.”

On the occasion, he urged leaders of ministries, departments, and sectors to abide by the Politburo’s Instruction 35 on increased Party governance on receiving complaints, and the Prime Minister’s Instruction 14 which regulates the implementation of the Law on Fees and Charges 2016.

These bodies must review, and reassess the compliance with legal documents and Central’s instructions on related works in each agency, ministry, sector as well as officials specialised in the work, he said. — VNS