Thủ Thiêm Peninsula in HCM City’s District 2. — VNS File Photo

HCM CITY — The Government Inspectorate has delivered its report on the controversial implementation of the master plan and land and construction management at the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area in HCM City’s District 2

It said 99 per cent of the land had been cleared and compensation payments and resettlement of local people had conformed to laws and regulations.

Contracts, mainly in build–transfer (BT) form, had been signed with the investors of a number of projects, including construction of the four main roads and the Thủ Thiêm Bridge No 2, development of infrastructure for the residential area in the northern part and construction of the section of the North-South Road from Thủ Thiêm Bridge to Mai Chí Thọ Street.

However, there had been shortcomings and violations on the part of the city People’s Committee and other relevant agencies during the investment and development processes, which had led to long-standing complaints from people having their land appropriated.

Construction regulations for the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area were incomplete and what there were had not been issued in time, and projects had not been submitted to the Government in the order of priority set by it.

These violations had resulted in plans for and investment in sketchy projects, which were delayed and not well managed.

The city authorities’ proposal to fix the price of land at VNĐ26 million for one square metre was “inappropriate”.

The HCM City People’s Committee had failed to implement the Government’s instructions, and its leaders would need to be held responsible.

However, other relevant agencies such as the Departments of Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, and Construction, and the management board of the Thủ Thiệm New Urban Area also had to be held accountable.

There was an “investment imbalance” of VNĐ8.734 trillion (US$375 million) in the development of the project.

The Inspector General has recommended that the Government should instruct HCM City to return the money it had provided as advances last September for developing the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area of over VNĐ26.315 trillion ($1.12 billion).

The report called for drafting plans to use the remaining land in Thủ Thiêm and to recalculate the prices of lands handed over to buyers to ensure the state coffers do not suffer a loss, and for “balancing investments.”

Nguyễn Thành Phong, the incumbent Chairman of HCM City People's Committee, said that a press briefing will be held as early as next week on the findings in the Government Inspectorate's report

If the economic violations that result in losses to the State asset are not resolved completely prior to December 31, the Government’s top watchdog said it would forward necessary documents to the investigative agencies to review the case in line with the law. — VNS