The construction of the Dai Loc Resettlement Area in Dong Nai Province’s Nhon Trach District.

Farmers who have their land reclaimed by the government must receive compensation equal to market prices in addition to several other support funds, according to a new decree effective October 1.

Residents are currently compensated at price lower than market value but are given other support allowances and offered apartments or a land at favorable prices.

A fairer shake

Representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment discussed Decree 69 at a press briefing Thursday.

Phung Van Nghe, acting head of the ministry’s Land Management General Department, said the document aimed to curb land compensation disputes.

Nghe said the decree clearly distinguishes compensation from support. He said support meant extra funds for transportation, resettlement costs, finding jobs and other purposes.

Different types of support would be decided upon based on how profitable the project might be, meaning the owners of a commercial center might have to pay more than those who build public works.

Tran Trung Chinh from the General Department of Land Management said affected residents under projects that had already been approved or paid compensation were not under the decree’s purview.

However, he warned relevant agencies not to make late compensation payments as the new decree would then force them to pay more.

Agricultural land

The new decree stipulates that households and individuals involved in agricultural production would receive assistance in changing jobs if their agricultural land is revoked and agencies don’t have farmland of the same value to provide.

Farmers who don’t receive agricultural land for that reason may instead receive compensation equal to 1.5-5 times the value of their land, or receive another plot of land for housing or non-agricultural production. They may also receive an apartment instead.

Additional support payments will last for two years if between 30-70 percent of their land is revoked or three years if more than 70 percent is reclaimed. Each person in the affected households will receive a monthly stipend equaling the cost of 30 kilograms of rice with prices at the time the land is revoked.

Filling the holes

Nghe said the new regulations would help make up for the current law’s shortcomings on the issue.

Under the current law, affected farmers receive a land plot for housing or for non-agriculture production as compensation when from 30 percent of their agricultural land is revoked and agriculture land is not made available to them.

The current law regulates that people forced to move receive support for 6 months, while those who only have part of their land revoked and can stay put receive support for 3 months.

Nghe said local land funds were now limited and it has been difficult to support farmers after taking their land.

The decree also said that houses and land at different levels and with various acreages will be set aside for resettlement, so that they are suitable for people of all incomes.

The current law does not regulate the construction of various kinds of houses for resettlement. Thus, many people whose land is revoked cannot afford houses in resettlement areas.

Reported by Bao Van