[governance-vn] NA debates better use of urban land under law

[Vern Weitzel]

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=03POL250908

NA debates better use of urban land under law

(25-09-2008)

HA NOI — The standing National Assembly (NA) Committee discussed the Urban 
Planning Law submitted by the Government yesterday.

The draft law comprises seven chapters with 80 articles. It regulates the 
organisation, assessment and approval of urban planning activities, 
implementation of urban planning, and management of urban development.

Most delegates agreed on the need to publish the Urban Planning Law.

According to the NA Economic Committee, when the law comes into operation, urban 
land will be better utilised.

The committee also added that this would play an important part in maintaining 
the beauty and culture of urban areas and improve State management of urban 
development.

Delegates said that it was necessary to clarify the relationship between the 
Urban Planning Law and other laws such as the Land Law, the Environment 
Protection Law, the Traffic Law and the Cultural Heritage Law.

Some delegates expressed concern about the lack of quality human resources in 
urban planning activities, and suggested the inclusion of clauses on training 
for urban planning.

Delegates also said it is necessary to clearly define urban areas according to 
their administrative levels.

However, this should not be regulated in details in the law, because urban 
classification changes in accord with socio-economic development, they said. The 
details on classification criteria should be regulated instead in Government 
decrees guiding the implementation of the law.

To create more favourable conditions for chief architects to accomplish their 
tasks, some delegates suggested the role of chief architect and head of the 
planning department should be merged. However, some said that the title of chief 
architect is no longer relevant as each city already has an urban planning 
committee which provides consultation for the municipal People’s Committee.

Delegates agreed that the draft law should focus on the responsibility and role 
of provincial and district level people’s committees in organising urban planning.

People’s committees will submit urban planning projects to the Ministry of 
Construction to be ratified by the Prime Minister.

The delegates also said that the draft law should strictly regulate adjustments 
to urban planning and define how foreign individuals and organisations can take 
part in urban planning.

New session

The fourth session of 12th National Assembly is expected to open on October 16 
as agreed yesterday by the National Assembly Standing Committee.

The meeting will last 26 days and will follow a slightly different formula from 
previous sessions.

Participants agreed to hold the NA preparatory meeting on the same day as the NA 
opening session. Delegates also agreed to present voters’ opinions at the 
opening session.

NA deputies will be divided into 12 groups to discuss different issues to 
promote the roles and duties of NA deputies. However some delegates complained 
that 12 groups may be too many and some deputies may miss the opportunity to 
express their opinion.

The question-and-answer session will be conducted in the same way as last year, 
but delegates suggested more time be spent on answering questions directly.

Answers in writing will not be read at the meeting. Instead, they will be sent 
to relevant NA deputies. —VNS