ĐẮK LẮK — Two commune land officers in Buôn Ma Thuột City in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk have received a disciplinary warning over their involvement in the illegal construction of the Đồi Thông Tourism Area, the Giao Thông (Transport) newspaper reported.

Vũ Văn Hưng, vice chairman of Buôn Ma Thuột City’s People’s Committee, announced the punishment on Monday, which was in the form of a warning to the two officers – Huỳnh Thanh Xuân in Tân Hòa Ward and Hồ Thiên Bắc in Cư Ebur Commune.

While working as commune land officers, Xuân and Bắc “lacked responsibility in overseeing and managing construction works and failed to timely consult relevant agencies to address illegal construction”.

They were found to have played a role in the construction of the Đồi Thông Tourism Area, which was being illegally built on farming land since the year 2000.

The tourism area invested by Mehyco Limited Company covers an area of over 15,600sq.m, and so far, investors have built 29 works on an area of some 1,300sq.m.

In September 2014, the company built a road leading to the tourism area; however, the road passed through the forest area under protection.

The investors were fined for the illegal construction. However, until last month, Đắk Lắk allowed the tourism area to remain operation because it was in line with the province’s tourism development plan until 2020 with vision to 2030.

The move has, however, caused much public concern. — VNS