(VOVworld) – After 3 years of implementing the Government’s decision on new rural areas development planning, 75% of the communes nationwide have completed their planning projects. But the implementation in some localities has not met the requirements. It’s necessary to review the planning and mobilize the participation of the entire political system and people to obtain the best efficiency.

Conference reviewing the new rural areas development planning (photo: VGP/Toan Thang)

The Ministry of Construction reported that 75% of the 10,000 communes nationwide have completed their new rural areas planning. Do Thanh Tung, Deputy Head of the Architecture and Planning Department under the Ministry of Construction, said the other 25% of the communes have not approved their planning because of a lack of cooperation between local officials and consulting organizations and a lack of competent officials to verify the planning.
Pham Hong Sinh, Deputy Director of the Construction Planning Institute of Vinh Phuc province’s Department of Construction, said that the high cost of land clearance for inter-hamlet roads is another major problem. "In Vinh Phuc province, the cost of land clearance in a commune is around 150,000 USD. The province will have to pay nearly 16 million USD for 112 communes. But the budget for technical and social infrastructure development is much smaller."

Dam Quang Tuan, Director of the Urban and Rural Architecture Planning Institute, says it’s necessary to include local investment projects in any new rural areas program. "We have planning projects for production, land use, and construction. The three projects are not being done at the same time by the same contractor. So there would be differences among these projects which cause difficulties for management and construction."

Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh says coordination is essential in the planning of new rural areas. Each locality should adjust it to match local conditions and the overall situation in line with Party and State policies.  Mrs. Linh said: "The Ministry of Construction will ask the National Steering Committee to revise the legal requirements. It’s important to train communal officials to meet the managerial requirements of new rural development. The 19 new rural criteria should be adjusted to suit local conditions."

New rural development program implemented in Viet Tien commune, Lao Cai province- Photo:laocai.gov.vn

New rural development planning is associated with new rural criteria and regional development planning. The planning and approval processes should be done logically to ensure the success of the building new rural areas program.

Van Hieu-Quang Dung