HCM City (VNA) – Thu Thiem new urban area was a “hot” topic in ameeting between Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City PartyCommittee Nguyen Thien Nhan and voters in the city’s District 2.

VoterNguyen Hong Thai expressed concerns over several dubious matters related to theThu Thiem new urban area, from legal issues, coercion to compensation and resettlement.

Accordingto Thai, many land owners have their land reclaimed coercively, though theyhave sufficient legal documents. However, compensation is not enough to buy aresettlement apartment. They even spent an addition of at least 3 million VND(131 USD) per sq.m to buy resettlement apartments.

VoterLe Thi Lan said that local residents have completely obeyed the Party’spolicies and the State’s law related to the project. However, numerous seriousmistakes, including unreasonable coercion of local authorities, have occurred.

Meanwhile,voter Nguyen Thi Hong Loan said that her house was also reclaimed, although itis located at Workers’ Housing Estates which are owned by the State and liesoutside the planned boundary of the new urban area. “The resettlement throughhouse lease is not fair as well,” she added.

Overthe past 10 years, local people sent hundreds of petitions to authorities fromthe municipal to the central levels, but all fall into silence, said voterNguyen Duc Tu.

VoterNguyen Dinh De stressed the need for the Government Inspectorate to continueclarifying violations at the urban, including the responsibility of the city’sleaders in the previous tenures in directing the implementation of the project.

Replyingvoters’ queries, Nhan affirmed that all houses which are located out of theplanned boundary of the project will not be reclaimed. His idea immediately wonlocal residents’ applause.

Sayingthat he had met several people affected by the project before this meeting,Nhan shared concerns of the locals, and hoped that they will back the city’spolicies.

Thecity’s leader affirmed that he will continue meeting with Thu Thiem residentsuntil a suitable solution is found.

Nhansaid many people are living in unsettled houses. The municipal authorities areseeking measures to end the situation and bring people to resettlement areas,he stressed.

HoChi Minh City considers the project as a top priority to be handled in the timeahead, he said, adding that the Government Inspectorate has recently made draftinspection results which were sent to related agencies for completion beforeJuly 15 as directed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.-VNA