Amending the Law on Public Investment, removing obstacles for site clearance work

Kinhtedothi - Discussing in groups about the Draft Law on Public Investment (amended), delegates of the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation expect the Law to remove difficulties and obstacles for public investment in general and site clearance for project implementation in particular.

On the afternoon of October 29, continuing the program of the 8th Session, National Assembly deputies discussed in groups the Draft Law on Public Investment (amended); Draft Law on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Securities Law, the Accounting Law, the Independent Audit Law, the State Budget Law, the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets, the Tax Administration Law and the Law on National Reserves.

Chairing the group discussion session at the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation were Politburo member, Secretary of the City Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai - Head of the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation; Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the City People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan - Deputy Head of the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation; Deputy Head of the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation Pham Thi Thanh Mai.

Attending the group discussion were Central Party Committee member, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh and delegates of the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation.

Removing obstacles in site clearance, having flexible mechanisms and policies

Discussing in groups, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the City People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan - Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hanoi City said that amending the Law on Public Investment is extremely necessary in the context of the disbursement of public investment nationwide not meeting expectations, with the target of 95% in 2024. Therefore, the opinions of the delegates contributing to the draft Law help to remove difficulties and obstacles for public investment in general, and site clearance for project implementation in particular.

Chairman of the City People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan speaks at the group discussion. Photo: Hong Thai

From practical experience in Hanoi, Chairman of the City People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan discussed and clarified the contents of comments related to the decentralization of authority to People's Committees at all levels to decide on investment policies for Group B and Group C projects under their management. At the same time, decentralization of authority to People's Committees at all levels to adjust medium-term public investment plans for local budget capital under their management, thereby contributing to transparency and increasing the effectiveness of public investment projects in localities.

Highly appreciating the content of the Draft Law on Public Investment (amended) brought up for discussion and consideration at this session, delegate Nguyen Phi Thuong said that site clearance and resettlement are always difficult and problematic issues for public investment projects. Therefore, allowing the separation of site clearance and resettlement projects into separate projects has contributed to promoting the implementation of projects.

Delegate Nguyen Phi Thuong said that site clearance and resettlement are always difficult and problematic issues for public investment projects. Photo: Hong Thai

Experience shows that the allocation of capital to implement these special projects still requires flexible mechanisms and policies. Experience in Hanoi shows that the allocation of capital for centralized site clearance instead of allocating specific capital for each project has been really effective, ensuring timely and flexible disbursement and payment.

“Accordingly, I propose to consider adding more content to Article 55 of the Draft Law on Public Investment (amended) on the principles of allocating capital for medium-term and annual public investment plans for programs and projects, adding content on allocating medium-term and annual capital plans focusing on site clearance as well as site clearance and resettlement projects” – delegate Nguyen Phi Thuong expressed his opinion.

Delegate Hoang Van Cuong speaks at the group discussion. Photo: Hong Thai

Agreeing with the separation of compensation, support, resettlement, and site clearance into independent projects, delegate Hoang Van Cuong said that the separation of compensation, support, resettlement, and site clearance into independent projects should be carried out for all projects, not in groups as stipulated in the draft Law. Because the draft Law still requires “in case of necessity” – so the drafting agency needs to clarify the meaning of this phrase, whether it is necessary in terms of time, people’s consensus, or what content?

Create flexibility in using regular spending sources

Assessing the significant impact of the draft Law on Public Investment (amended) on society, delegate Nguyen Thi Lan was concerned about the adjustment of investment policies (Clause 1, Article 34). According to the delegate, it is necessary to clarify the authority to decide on adjusting investment policies in cases where the program or project has been decided on by a competent authority.

Delegate Nguyen Thi Lan speaks at the group discussion. Photo: Hong Thai

Regarding the permission to use regular expenditure sources and other legal capital sources to prepare for project investment, delegate Nguyen Thi Lan agreed with the opinion of the examining agency and found that this provision in the Draft Law has created flexibility for ministries, agencies and localities to use regular expenditure sources or other legal capital sources to prepare for project investment. This will create more convenience, more flexibility and promote better project preparation, and provide more support for the implementation of ODA projects and other preferential loan projects.

“However, it is also necessary to strictly regulate when regular expenditure sources and other sources can be used to prepare for project investment so as not to affect the normal operations of the locality and the unit. In addition, it is necessary to regulate the necessary feasibility conditions of the project before this source can be used for project preparation,” said delegate Nguyen Thi Lan.

Delegates of the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation participate in group discussion. Photo: Hong Thai

According to the Draft Law on Public Investment (amended), the main amendments and supplements of the Draft Law are: allowing the separation of compensation, support, resettlement, and site clearance into independent projects for all project groups (including group B and C projects). Allowing the allocation of local budget capital to entrust the implementation of preferential credit policies through the local Social Policy Bank.

Decentralization of authority to adjust the medium-term public investment plan of central budget capital among ministries, central agencies and localities from the National Assembly Standing Committee to the Prime Minister. Decentralization of authority to decide on the use of the central budget capital reserve, unallocated central budget capital in the medium-term public investment plan from the National Assembly to the National Assembly Standing Committee...

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/sua-doi-luat-dau-tu-cong-go-vuong-cho-cong-tac-giai-phong-mat-bang.html