HÀ NỘI — Construction violations were the main topic of discussion at the National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday, as deputies finished their final day of the second meeting this year.

An illegal place of worship being torn down in Ba Vì District, Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo

Deputy Lê Quang Trí from Tiền Giang Province said a series of construction violations had occurred, ranging from surpassing the number of levels allowed in city centres to buildings without construction permits, he said.

The main reason was due to a lack of supervision, and citizens not having a voice, Trí said.

“To resolve the problem, the Government should use IT to monitor constructions,” he told Minister of Construction Phạm Hồng Hà.

The draft amendments propose policies to encourage research and the implementation of cutting-edge science and technology in construction, for example, the use of energy-saving and eco-friendly materials. The law, however, leaves a void regarding the applying of technology in supervising construction violations.  

If the use of IT was included the law, authorities could invest in equipment like flycams and ordinary cameras to take photos of new buildings and compare them to the original plans.

“That will allow authorities to handle violations so we no longer have to knock buildings down, which is an utter waste,” the deputy said.

Deputy Hoàng Văn Cường from Hà Nội said the law to state loud and clear the responsibilities of all parties involved in the construction of a building, from the central Government and local authorities, to the investor.

“There have been rampant breaches of construction regulations lately, but we don’t know who is responsible,” Cường said. “Is it down to the municipal People’s Committee or the construction inspectors?”

He said local authorities should take responsibility for monitoring constructions in their areas. Construction inspectors should take charge if violations were discovered, Cường added.

The Hà Nội deputy also wanted to increase the penalty for breaking the regulations as a deterrent.

Ward People’s Councils eliminated

The NA on Wednesday afternoon voted for a resolution to pilot abolishing ward-level People’s Councils in the capital.

With more than 81 per cent of deputies voting for the resolution, Hà Nội will be allowed to run a pilot programme to restructure the city's administration starting July 1, 2021. The programme will end when the NA says so, which is yet to be decided.

According to the resolution, the People’s Committee will be the sole administrative authority.

The Government should submit a report on the restructuring to the NA and NA Standing Committee by the fourth quarter of 2023 at the latest. — VNS