High-rise construction increasingly threatens architecture and urban planning in the Old Quarter.– Photo giaoduc.net

HÀ NỘI – High-rise construction increasingly threatens architecture and urban planning in the Old Quarter.

The chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoàn Kiếm District recently issued instructions to cut off buildings exceeding permitted height which violate regulations on architect and urban planning in the Old Quarter.

But after three months, the instructions are still being carried out at a snail’s pace.

According to Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper, People’s committees of wards must take responsibility to implement the instructions. But so far, many construction projects violating the rules still exist.

The construction of a hotel on Hàng Bông Street is one example. The chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoàn Kiếm District decided to demolish the part of the construction which was not included in the construction licence. After much insistence on Hàng Bông ward’s authority, the demolition plan was completed. But demolition was carried out at a snail’s pace.

Another example is a building on Lý Nam Đế Street. The building was forced to cut 3 floors which exceeded height requirements. But slow implementation of the decision has raised doubts among people about authority.

Phạm Tuấn Long, deputy chairman of Hoàn Kiếm People’s Committee, told the paper that “after receiving complaints about construction work violating rules, the committee carried several inspections and gave strict punishments to violations”.

“But most of the construction violations broke height rules. So demolition must be carefully monitored, so as to ensure safety for neighboring households,” Long said.

To deal with construction violations, last week the Hoàn Kiếm authority was forced to demolish or cut off 20 construction projects in Hàng Bông, Hàng Gai, Hàng Bồ, Tràng Tiền, Lý Thái Tổ, Hàng Buồm, Cửa Nam, and Trần Hưng Đạo wards.

Oversight failures

To protect architecture and urban planning in the Old Quarter, the Hà Nội’s People’s Committee issued regulations on granting construction licences in the area.

Under the regulations, investors must submit documents to the Hoàn Kiếm’s People’s Committee. The documents are evaluated by specialised agencies for approval.

"The process of licence granting is carried out very carefully," Long said.

But supervising investors has been neglected by ward authorities, which leads to violations. Most construction violations involve exceeding building height by 1-2 floors, compared to the licences granted.

“Many violations were rooted in failures of management oversight”, Long told the paper. – VNS