Danang University Village project which has been delayed for 15 years has disrupted the lives of local residents.
Mrs. Tran Thi Cam complained that despite owning a large piece of land, she has been blocked from dividing it among her children
Approved by the Prime Minister in 1997, the VND1.7 trillion (USD80.6 million) 300ha project was supposed to educate 30,000 students per year.
Local people were very happy with the project, believing that it would provide jobs and stimulate the local economy. However, over the past 15 years, the project has stagnated, causing difficulties for households in the area.
Due to living in the planned area, the households are unable to divide their land plot for their children or transfer land ownership or use as collateral for their businesses. They have also been unable to repair their houses to deal with the impact caused by flooding.
Mrs. Mai Thi Tuyet in Hoa Quy Ward has four children, including two who are married, and one elderly mother. But she can not divide her 3,000-square metre land plot for the children and they all have to live in a narrow house. When the storm season comes, some of the family members have to stay at their relatives. But if she needed to raise money, she would not be able to sell land.
Another resident Tran Thi Cam complained that, “My family has lived here since 1995. Now my children have grown up, I want to separate some parts of the land, but I am not allowed to do. My kitchen has leaked for years, but I can’t do anything about it.”
Locals moan that they want to give their land to children, but they are not permitted to do. Thousands of the locals are facing unemployment, while the land remains unused.
Pham Cuong, Head of Hoa Quy Ward’s Group 32, said in 1995, the group had only 50 households, but now the figure had risen to 100. However, the number of households has remained the same. The locals proposed building a cultural house for the group meetings, but failed. As a result, they have to hold meetings in local houses.
People have brought the problem to the local authorities on many occasions but the issue remains unresolved.
To partially improve the situation, in 2010, the People’s Committee of Danang City allowed each local household with land ownership right certificates to build a 50-square metre house as a storm shelter; but it has not proved a satisfactory solution for households which have five children or so.
Chairman of Hoa Quy Ward Nguyen Hoa said more than 1,000 people in Hoa Quy Ward live in the area planned for the Danang University Village Project. The ward has submitted the issue to higher authorities but to date there has not seen improvement.
"This is the Ministry of Education and Training’s project so we sympathise with the locals, but can’t do anything more. In a situation where the project continues to be delayed, we expect action from the city and ministry to ensure the rights of local residents,” he noted.