Presenting a statement at the meeting, Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghia said that the development of the Draft Law aims to create a legal basis and management tool which is comprehensive and consistent to regulate urban and rural planning activities. In addition, it enhances the effectiveness of state management and ensures the harmony of interests of the State, people and society.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue delivers his speech at the meeting on April 22
According to Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghia, the dossier requesting the development of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning was approved by the National Assembly with 3 policies consisting of: Completing the provisions on the system of urban and rural planning; completing the provisions on the establishment, appraisal, approval, review and adjustment of urban and rural planning; completing the provisions on the selection of consulting organizations to develop planning schemes, funding sources and other related regulations to improve the quality and feasibility of urban and rural planning schemes, the right to access and provide information on urban and rural planning.
Representing the reviewing agency, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Economic Affairs Vu Hong Thanh clarified that consolidating the provisions on urban planning and rural planning into one law is appropriate, aiming to ensure consistency in the general orientations for controlling, managing, developing urban and rural areas, developing harmoniously and connecting urban and rural spaces, supplementing the common development of localities, regions and the whole country.
Regarding the orientations for the Law’s content development, the Chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs stated that it is necessary to ensure that urban planning must have a suitable vision, be strategic, respect the market mechanism and the principles of sustainable development.
Along with that, it is essential to combine harmoniously the urbanization process, urban development with industrialization, modernization, new rural construction and economic restructuring, social development management, and ensuring national defense and security.
Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highly appreciated the preparation of the project with great responsibility. Notably, the Committee on Economic Affairs had a preliminary review report raising numerous specific and major issues that would further improve the project.
Regarding some specific contents, the National Assembly Chairman noted that the draft law must be scrutinized to clarify and address the relationship between urbanization and new rural construction; the relationship between urbanization and urban economic development; and schemes that adapt to climate change.
At the same time, the draft law needs to clearly state the criteria and standards for urban planning in association with population density and infrastructure to calculate the balance of urban development in width and developing urban areas following the TOD model; the essential criteria in urban planning, rural planning, etc.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue strongly emphasized the need to study and resolve practical difficulties, considering the adjustment of planning schemes in cases where the schemes are not suitable to reality.
Besides, the National Assembly Chairman suggested reviewing to ensure the consistency of the legal system of this law with related laws, including the draft Law on Urban Development Management, as well as current laws such as the Law on Planning, the Law on Public Investment, the Law on State Budget, the Law on Forestry, the Law on PPP, the Law on Environmental Protection, etc.
