Dong Nai (VNA) -ꦰ Residents in the southern province of Dong Nai who will be resettled to other areas to make way for construction of Long Thanh International Airport expect the project to commence so that their lives will be stabilised soon.

This was revealed at a dialogue with a working group of the National Assembly's Economic Committee and representatives from Dong Nai province agencies last week that most of them supported the project's implementation. They also hope that the National Assembly will promptly issue policies on financial compensation, support schemes, site clearance and resettlement for residents. Nguyen Van Hau, a Long An commune resident, said thousands of households didn't dare to repair or build their houses despite the fact that the project was planned 20 years ago. The road is covered with mud and dust while the project has been on hold for a long time so local people worry about having to move to other places, he said. Nguyen Van Trung, another resident, said like other people in the commune he is ready to give up land for public interest but he hopes that the government will provide appropriate compensation. Vo Van Chanh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said authorities are preparing documents to separate compensation, site clearance, resettlement and vocational training to submit to the Government for approval in a bid to speed up the project. They are also completing policies on financial compensation, support schemes and resettlement for people who are affected by the Long Thanh Airport project to submit to the government for approval. Nguyen Van Phuc, deputy head of the National Assembly's Economic Committee, said much attention has been paid by the National Assembly to the project. He suggested the provincial authorities publicise and provide adequate information on the project. The External Committee will soon ask the National Assembly's Standing Committee to review and find a special mechanism for the issues. According to Dong Nai province's Natural Resources and Environment, nearly 15,000 people from Long Thanh district's Binh Son, Suoi Trau, Cam Duong, Bau Can, Long An and Long Phuoc communes have to move to other places for the construction of the Long Thanh Airport project. Most of them are of working age and their incomes depend on agricultural and industrial production. Total land used by individuals and families in the project's area amounts to 3,000ha, accounting for 60 percent of land revoked for the project. The Long Thanh international airport project was approved by the National Assembly in June this year. Once completed, the airport will be able to handle 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of cargo per year. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2018, and the airport is likely to become operational by 2025. The total cost of the three-phase project is estimated at 336.63 trillion VND (15 billion USD). The project's funding is expected to come from the State budget, official development assistance, corporate investment and public-private partnerships, among other resources.-VNA