PHÚ THỌ — As many as 47 approved projects in the northern province of Phú Thọ have been delayed for years, some for up to a decade, affecting the daily lives of people living in the project areas.

Vice Director of the province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment Vũ Văn Nhất said the delayed projects occupy a total area of more than 186 ha.

Eleven delayed projects are in the city of Việt Trì, six are in the town of Phú Thọ, five in Tân Sơn District, one in Thanh Ba District, four in Cẩm Khê District, one in Đoan Hùng District, two in Thanh Sơn District, six in Lâm Thao District, three in Thanh Thủy District and eight in Tam Nông District.

Most of the projects were approved years, ago but few moves have been to complete land clearance, compensation or resettlement of families that need to move to make room for construction.

For example, dozens of families in Vân Phú Ward in Việt Trì have been waiting to be resettled for 15 years since the Hùng Vương University project was approved.

Without compensation they could not relocate, but living in the project area, they could not fix their degraded houses or build new ones.

Roads to their houses are degraded and tap water is not available, Vietnam News Agency reported on Friday.

In another project, Hòa Bình Minh Ltd Company rented 5,000 sq.m for 49 years to implement a handicraft production project in Sơn Vi Commune, Lâm Thảo District. But in the six years since receiving the land, the company did nothing but build a fence.

Environment official Nhất said that in most of the delayed projects, investors did not have the financial ability and experience to start construction.

In many cases their use of land fell outside their registered purpose or they did not fulfill investment commitments.

“Some investors want to transfer the land to get profit rather than implement their registered projects,” Nhất said.

He said it was difficult to stop such delayed projects as the current Land Law allowed investors to delay implementing projects for up to four years.

Hoàng Công Thủy, Vice Chairman of Phú Thọ Province People’s Committee, said the province was looking to improve its ability to assess and select investors to ensure the success and efficiency of approved projects.

In the last few years, the province’s Department of Planning and Investment has recommended revoking the investment licences of delayed projects.

The department reported it had withdrawn the licences of 31 projects which were delayed for seven to 10 years. — VNS