Illegal works in Sóc Sơn protected forest to be dismantled by year end

Hà Nội People’s Committee chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung ( standing) asked for forcible measures to address land use violations in Sóc Sơn District’s forest land. – Photo dantri.com.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI – Twenty-seven constructions that were illegally built on forest land in Hà Nội’s Sóc Sơn District over the past two year must be dismantled by December. The projects include houses, villas and even an eco-tourism area with a swimming pool, stilt houses and concrete roads. Chairman of Hà Nội’s People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Chung said at a meeting on Tuesday that the city’s agriculture department and Sóc Sơn District’s People’s Committee must contact the owners and tell them to take the buildings down. “If the owners refuse to comply, local authorities will move in and dismantle them in December,” Chung said. He said that the city had told district construction inspectors to deal with the violations, but they had been unsuccessful. The chairman said the co-operation between agencies and departments had also failed to address the issue. The violations were detected in Minh Phú and Minh Trí communes, and since then the chairman of Minh Phú Commune’s People’s Committee has been suspended for 30 days for alleged involvement in land use and construction violations. After local media reported rampant land use violations and construction in the two communes, Hà Nội authorities were prompted to examine the land use, land management and construction licences granted there. – VNS