Leaders of Ninh Binh, Four Paws work to accelerate progress of projects

Carsten Hertwig, Director of Sustainable Sanctuaries for FOUR PAWS International, reported the progress as well as difficulties and obstacles in implementing the two projects.

The construction of the Bear Sanctuary Ninh Binh started in 2015 and has total investment capital of nearly 205 billion VND. Covering a total area of 10 hectares, the first phase of the project was put into operation in 2017. It is now taking care of 49 bears.

The second phase of the project covers an area of 6.15 hectares. Currently, Nho Quan district has basically completed site clearance but it has not yet finalised files of land transfer to the provincial People's Committee for approval, therefore, the land plot reserving for the project has not been granted a certificate of land use right.

The project on building the Asian Carnivore Conservation Centre, which covers a total area of 34.96 hectares, is invested by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It has been implemented since 2014.

To date, the construction of a work building, roads, water and power systems, fences and ponds has been completed. The total value of payment was 35.8 billion VND, accounting for 48% of the total. Since 2017, the project has been halted due to a lack of capital from the state.

In 2018, FOUR PAWS proposed the provincial People's Committee hand over the project to the organisation for implementation.

The site clearance has been completed but the land plot reserving for the project has not been granted a certificate of land use right.

A representative of FOUR PAWS underscored that it has prepared all conditions to expedite the two projects and it expected to complete the construction in 2023. Hence, FOUR PAWS suggested Ninh Binh soon remove difficulties in terms of procedures and transfer the land plot so that it could carry out the next steps.

At the working session, leaders of departments and agencies exchanged and clarified difficulties and hurdles, and then put forth solutions to remove difficulties in a bid to speed up the project's progress.

Concluding the session, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Tran Song Tung stressed the importance of the two projects in boosting the province's socio-economic growth and raising people's awareness of nature conservation.

Ninh Binh authorities pledged to assist FOUR PAWS in implementing the projects.

Tung also asked local departments, sectors, agencies and localities to promptly remove difficulties and assist the investor to complete their procedures related to construction licensing.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy