The newly-elected minister of Natural Resources & Environment, Nguyen Minh Quang vowed to address land management violations during his first press conference on August 23.
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| Minister of Natural Resources & Environment, Nguyen Minh Quang. |
Land use violations have long been burning issue in Vietnam. According to a recent report from the Government, disputes and lawsuits over land use account for 60% of all civil claims. Some of the most common causes are corruption, speculation and waste in land.
Asked about this situation, Thanh said that he will give priority to the regulation and management of land.
“The prime minister has just given directions concerning the inspection and enforcement of land use law," Thanh said. "We have sent inspection teams to some cities and provinces with orders to report back."
There is a rising number of disputes relating to land acquisition, allocation and compensation, violations in issuing and obtaining land-use rights certificates by individuals and organizations, and so on, Thanh said that this was a local issue. "There has been a lack of enforcement these laws. Also, frequent changes in land use policy as well as inconsistencies in dispute arbitration have caused difficulties for people."
The new minister also said that he would try to tackle the problem of land speculation.
Currently land allocation is granted at the local level. Thanh said, "In addition to changing authorities in charge of this process, we will also give priority for the use of land for better purposes."