Adjusting land use from rice paddies and forests to make way for the North-South high-speed railway.

On the afternoon of October 10th, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly gave its opinion on the policy of adjusting the National Land Use Planning for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2050.

Presenting the Government's report, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Minh Ngan stated that, according to the provisions of the 2017 Planning Law and Decree No. 37/2019, the National Land Use Planning has 28 land use indicators.

According to the 2024 Land Law and Decree No. 102/2024, the national land use planning now only specifies 2 land use indicators by land group and 6 land use indicators by land type.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Minh Ngan. Photo: National Assembly

Specifically, the land use targets for agricultural land groups include defining specific targets for four types of land: rice paddy land, special-use forest land, protection forest land, and production forest land (natural forest).

The land use targets for non-agricultural land groups include specific targets for two types of land: defense land and security land. The remaining targets are determined in the land allocation and zoning plan of the provincial planning.

Furthermore, Mr. Ngan also stated that the Central Party Committee has approved the investment in a high-speed railway project on the North-South axis, requiring approximately 10,827 hectares of land (the Government is expected to submit this to the National Assembly for consideration and decision at the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly), leading to an increased demand for land for important national infrastructure projects.

Furthermore, the provincial planning of 61 provinces and cities has been approved, and in practice, it has strictly adhered to the land use targets according to the national land use plan. However, many localities have proposed land use needs by 2030 that show significant increases or decreases.

Based on this reality, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment stated that if the national land use plan is not adjusted or supplemented, it will limit the demand for certain types of land in localities, causing difficulties in implementing key national projects and projects with the potential to attract investment.

Therefore, the Government is submitting to the National Assembly for consideration and decision the policy on adjusting the national land use planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, at the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly.

Specifically, the adjustments cover eight land use indicators, including: agricultural land, comprising rice paddy land, special-use forest land, protective forest land, and natural production forest land; and non-agricultural land, comprising national defense land and security land.

If people produce food, they won't get rich.

Reviewing this matter, the Chairman of the Economic Committee, Vu Hong Thanh, stated that the Standing Committee of the Economic Committee found the Government's proposal to be in line with the requirements of the National Assembly, especially in the context of Vietnam preparing to implement several important national projects in the transportation sector, such as the high-speed railway project on the North-South axis.

Therefore, the reviewing agency agrees with the necessity of adjusting the national land use plan based on the grounds and content as presented in the Government's submission.

However, Mr. Thanh suggested that the Government conduct a comprehensive analysis and assessment, further clarifying the causes and proposing solutions to improve the effectiveness of this plan's implementation.

In addition, the review agency also recommended that the Government assess the impact of policies and laws on the implementation of land use targets; thoroughly review the land use needs of localities and develop appropriate allocation plans; and pay attention to maintaining the area of ​​rice cultivation land, forest cover, etc.

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi. Photo: National Assembly

Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi proposed studying the suitability of rice-growing land in the Mekong Delta for the socio-economic development of the entire country.

"I think that rice farming is very good, but no country or region has become rich solely from rice farming; instead, other industries and services must be developed," said Mr. Le Tan Toi.

Therefore, the Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee proposed adjusting the allocation of rice-growing land in the Mekong Delta region to be more rational with other regions and in line with the country's overall economic development.

"During the subsidy period, around 1980, the whole country was facing food shortages, and the Mekong Delta was one of the places that produced food to help other areas escape famine. But for the past few decades, the people here have remained poor, and producing food hasn't helped them prosper," the Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee analyzed.

Planning for efficient use

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man noted that the principle for adjusting the national land use plan is to comply with regulations on reviewing and adjusting the plan; ensure land use needs serve socio-economic development goals; and allocate land rationally, economically, and efficiently.

"You all know that land is limited; there's only so much of it. How can we plan for its efficient use? Our ancestors said that every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. How can we use land effectively to ensure development?" the Speaker of the National Assembly emphasized.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. Photo: National Assembly

This includes ensuring the development of infrastructure, food security, water resources, forest cover, and ecosystems; and effectively addressing social issues, including housing and production land for ethnic minorities.

"For decades, food security has been extremely important to our country. The reason we maintain rice cultivation land, even though the profit isn't much, is for national food security and to contribute to international food security," Mr. Man further explained.

Therefore, at all costs, land use planning must take into account food security, water resources, forest cover rates, and the limitation of deforestation.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha further informed that, after the Politburo's conclusion on the high-speed railway, the national transportation land area will certainly increase significantly, while the fields of culture, sports, education, and health have a very large demand for land, especially in urban areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. Photo: National Assembly

When the National Assembly approves the high-speed railway project, the demand for land for transportation will increase significantly, and this land cannot be obtained from anywhere other than the 3.5 million hectares of agricultural land and 15.6 million hectares of forest land.

"But we need to conduct very thorough research to ensure food security," the Deputy Prime Minister analyzed.

Mr. Tran Hong Ha also stated that the question is how to use the 3.5 million hectares of rice land effectively. Currently, it is very difficult for localities to be allocated a large amount of rice land; multi-purpose land use planning is needed to help farmers develop better.

Take decisive action to expedite the North-South high-speed railway project.

The Standing Committee of the Government has called for a change in thinking and approach to the North-South high-speed railway project, with the following principles: decisive action; mobilization of all resources; thorough and meticulous preparation, but implementation must be fast and efficient...

"Crossing mountains when encountering mountains, building bridges when encountering rivers" to construct a 350 km/h high-speed railway.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that the investment in constructing the railway line with a design speed of 350 km/h must be "as straight as possible," "crossing mountains when encountering them, and building bridges when encountering rivers."

Agreement reached on the investment plan for the North-South high-speed railway project (350km/h).

The Central Committee unanimously agreed on the principle of investing in the entire 350km/h North-South high-speed railway project to submit to the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly for consideration and decision.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/dieu-chinh-dat-lua-dat-rung-de-lam-duong-sat-toc-do-cao-bac-nam-2330752.html