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Private firms may back resettlement
HCM City authorities have invited the private sector to invest in the city's half-completed resettlement plan for canal-side residents.
Nguyen Van Danh, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, said the city wanted the sector to invest in the resettlement projects because the local government's budget was too slim.
Nearly half of the 15,000 canal-side residents of HCM City have already been relocated to flats as part of the city's resettlement plan.
The plan belongs to a city programme to clear the view along canals by demolishing houses along and on the canals, including communities in Tan Hoa – Lo Gom, Tham Luong – Ben Cat, Vam Thuat, Nuoc Len, Doi, and Te canals.
The plan still needs capital for demolition of 7,642 shacks and the resettlement of the families in districts 6,8, and Binh Thanh.
In return for investors demolishing houses, they would receive some vacant land along the canal.
The socialisation of the resettlement plan was piloted in District 8, but failed because 55 invited businesses refused to participate.
Last year, the city assigned a State-run real estate company – RESCO to be the investor of the projects.
The company has completed 629 houses and paid compensation to 784 out of 905 families removed from District 8's U Cay Canal; handed over 600 resettlement flats in District 7's Tan My Area, 176 flats in District 12's An Suong Area and would complete 350 other flats for residents being relocated from District 8's Ba Dinh Wharf.
Many of the resettlers were pleased to move away from their stilted houses by and on the canals. "I had a hard time living by the canal in District 8 as my husband and I had to stay alert at night to bail out the house when the tide got too high," said Huynh Thi Hong, a new resident in Tan My Apartments.
Nguyen Ho Hai, Deputy Chairman of District 8 People's Committee, said the plan had helped beautify the district and improve people's general welfare.
The construction department suggested that the People's Committee attract investors by offering them a 10-year loan of VND100 billion (US$5.1 million)at very low interest.
It also suggested that the occupancy rate on the land be raised.
vietnamnews
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