Lax management of local authorities in Hanoi has allowed some businesses to take advantage and illegally encroach on dyke and embankment areas along the Red River to construct factories, parking lots and stockpile material.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hanoi has now very recently established an inspectorate that will look into such encroachments and accordingly take action.
One of the most encroached areas is Lien Mac Commune in Tu Liem District, where the inspectorate found that the Chem Production and Service Company has seriously violated laws and regulations covering the dyke system as well as ignored the ordinance rules for flood and storm prevention.
The company premises are widely spread across the Red River embankment area, and over the years the company has been illegally transporting soil to heighten the bank and broadening it for construction of more of their facilities, without proper permission.
Although the People’s Committee of Lien Mac Commune has surveyed the site several times and even suspended construction work being done by the company, they have failed to completely prevent this from happening.
In the same commune, the inspectorate also deterred violations of the Nam Thang Long Commercial Company that has illegally been building their factory at the edge of the Red River.
Local authorities have uncovered unlicensed construction by Nam Thang Long Company and have been unable to stop the company from violating rules.
In another case, the Hanoi People’s Committee had licensed the Hanoi Transport Services Corporation to operate a parking lot under Thanh Tri Bridge in Hoang Mai District, located in the Red River dyke area.
The company has taken advantage of the license and poured more soil to broaden and heighten the parking lot. This has created a dam that is blocking the current of the Red River.
According to inspectors, the parking lot will badly affect the floodwater flow from the Red River.
The Hanoi People’s Committee has ordered the company to stop these violations but so far they have been ignored.
Hoang Mai District authorities have twice sent documents to the City People’s Committee, asking them to instruct authorized organs to absolutely resolve the issue but nothing has changed so far.
They have recently again requested authorities to put an end to violations of the Hanoi Transport Services Corporation. If the company still refuses to cooperate, the district People’s Committee may be asked to step in and tackle the situation.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed to the inspectorate to clarify tasks of related individuals and organs for allowing businesses to encroach the Red River dyke and embankment area and tackle the issue more responsibly.
The People’s Committee in Hanoi should handle all violations strictly so as to ensure the safety for the river dyke system that is vital during the flood and storm season.
Related article:
Heavy truck traffic downgrading Red River dyke system
