Ho Chi Minh City has canceled 169 of 357 long-delayed housing projects in the 2016-2022 period, an official has said.

Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Toan Thang told a meeting of the city’s People’s Council that the city promulgated 13 resolutions permitting changes to the land use purpose and land acquisition of 1,532 projects falling far behind the construction schedule.

Mr. Thang said relevant authorities will drastically handle all projects that are eligible for land use but have been delayed without an acceptable reason.

The Department worked with relevant bodies this year to review 401 housing projects in the locality, of which 87 were eligible for licenses.

By October, the city had granted 21,218 ownership certificates to local people. However, some projects still face legal obstacles, with the Department working with competent authorities to help resolve.

Late last year, the Department issued Plan No. 6707/KH-STNMT-VPDK on speeding up the granting of certificates for homebuyers at the city’s housing projects.

As planned, the city will grant ownership certificates for 21,727 houses and apartments by the end of the year and another 15,664 by February 2023.