Waste of "golden" land on Thong Nhat Street

Land plot No. 5 Thong Nhat Street (Hai Duong City) has been abandoned for 26 years. Photo: Thanh Chung

Assigned to Phuc Son Cement Company for use, but after 26 years, the land with a prime location at No. 5 Thong Nhat Street, Le Thanh Nghi Ward (Hai Duong City) is still abandoned, causing discontent among the people.

Promise after promise

The land plot at No. 5 Thong Nhat Street with an area of ​​2,146 m2 was contributed by the province as a joint venture capital in the form of land use value to Phuc Son Cement Company since 1996 for a term of 50 years. The purpose of the enterprise is to build a headquarters and offices for rent. However, after 26 years, while the surrounding area has developed with houses close together, this place is still deserted. Currently, the value of land plots on Thong Nhat Street has increased, among the most expensive in Hai Duong City, but this area is only used by people to grow vegetables and bananas.

“Looking at the abandoned land and wasted resources, everyone feels heartbroken. We have petitioned our superiors many times but they have not been resolved. The city's main road has abandoned land, which looks very offensive," said Mr. Bui Van Thang, Secretary of the Party Cell of Residential Area No. 5, Le Thanh Nghi Ward. In 2019, when the city was recognized as a Type I urban area, this residential area had to clear the banana garden here to ensure aesthetics. In the near future, when the walking street and night market open, the residential area also plans to take advantage of this location to park vehicles. "The land worth hundreds of billions of VND but being used ineffectively makes everyone fed up," Mr. Thang added.

In 2012, after the meeting between the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Phuc Son Cement Company, the province had a policy to continue supporting the enterprise to use the old headquarters on Thong Nhat Street to implement the project of office buildings and offices for rent. At the same time, it was requested that by February 2013, the company must start the project. If the deadline is exceeded, the Provincial People's Committee will reclaim the land according to regulations. In April 2013, Phuc Son Cement Company reported the construction progress of the project in writing. Accordingly, in July 2013, the enterprise will carry out the procedures and build the project. However, this project is still only on paper.

In May 2019, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced the results of the review of the Land Law compliance for this land due to being abandoned for many years, not put into use and without a specific plan. Accordingly, the violation of Phuc Son Cement Company is subject to land reclamation.

In July 2019, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment conducted an inspection of the company's compliance with the law on natural resources, environment and the results of mineral exploitation activities. The Inspectorate of the Ministry reviewed the company's violations in the use of land at No. 5 Thong Nhat Street and proposed that the province reclaim it.

After receiving action from the authorities, Phuc Son Cement Company continued to report on the land use plan, pledging to start construction in November 2019.

The abandoned land is located in the central area of ​​Hai Duong city.

Continue project proposal

Phuc Son Cement Company committed but did not implement the project. In August 2022, the Department of Finance held a meeting to resolve problems related to the land on Thong Nhat Street. The relevant units agreed to report to the Provincial People's Committee to request the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the People's Committee of Hai Duong City to review and evaluate the enterprise's compliance with land laws on the above land.

At the end of 2022, the company proposed to implement the project again. Accordingly, the enterprise will build a commercial area and office space. The construction project is expected to have 5 floors, with a construction floor area of ​​844 m2. The first floor is for parking, the second and third floors are for rent, the fourth and fifth floors are for the company's office and for rent.

Regarding the proposal of the enterprise, the authorities have their own opinions and views. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment affirmed that Phuc Son Cement Company violated the Land Law, the land must be recovered and is not allowed to continue implementing the project. The People's Committee of Hai Duong City did not approve the proposal of the enterprise, many times voters and people reported the waste of land, causing loss of urban beauty. On the other hand, the company's business activities have been difficult in recent years, the office in Kinh Mon town has not been fully utilized. Therefore, it is necessary to re-evaluate the financial capacity of the enterprise.

According to the Department of Construction, there should be a basis for considering the implementation of the project. If the project is implemented, the company must review the project's objectives to ensure they are consistent with the planning, land use plan of Hai Duong City and the construction planning, construction density. The Department of Finance requested clarification of the investment capital source for the project and the province's capital contribution. However, when there is a conclusion of land violations, it is impossible to advise the Provincial People's Committee to approve the project implementation.

According to the leader of the Department of Planning and Investment, the proposal of Phuc Son Cement Company does not have a specific plan and the source of investment capital has not been determined. Therefore, the project is not feasible.

HOANG LINH