Experts from 25 northern provinces and cities contributed opinions to the draft amended Law on Land during a conference on Monday in Ha Noi.

Chairing the conference, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said that the Law on Land was a very important law that affects all aspects of political, economic and social life across the country.

The draft amended Land Law was posted on the Government Portal and the website of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to collect opinions from organisations, individuals and provincial and municipal people’s committees, Ha added.

He called on experts to focus particularly on land use planning, compensation and resettlement, as well as the allocation, lease, financial revenues from land and transfer of agricultural land use rights.

Speaking at the conference, Le Thanh Khuyen, director of the General Department of Land Administration, said that the draft amended law was arranged in a similar fashion to the current law.

It has two additional chapters, which are about land fund development, acquisition, requisition, compensation and support for resettlement.

The draft amended Land Law includes 237 articles, of which 48 articles remain unchanged, amending and supplementing 153 articles. It added 36 new articles and abolished eight articles.

Khuyen presented new points in the draft amended law and asked experts to contribute ideas based on the situation in their localities and sectors.

Speaking at the conference, most representatives agreed with the draft amended law.

Bui Van Coi, director of the Lang Son Department of Natural Resources and Environment, suggested that the law should have regulations on procedures for land allocation, land lease and permission to change land use purposes for religious places.

Nguyen Trong Hai, permanent deputy chairman of the Lao Cai Province People’s Committee, said that changes must be assessed in detail to ensure transparency and feasibility. — VNS