HCM CITY -- Many HCM CITY sidewalks have been encroached again after a campaign was launched to remove illegally parked cars, vendors, cafes, canopies and other obstructions.

The re-encroachment has occurred in various streets and different districts of the city.

According to a report by Lao Động (Labour) newspaper, sidewalks on Phạm Vân Đồng Road from Thủ Đức District to Bình Thạnh and Gò Vấp districts are once again encroached by restaurants and cafes after 5pm every day.

“At the moment, city authorities are not patrolling as regularly as they were the last few months, and our clients wanted to sit on sidewalks for fresh air, so I was so bold as to put tables on the pavement”, said an owner of a restaurant on Phạm Văn Đồng Road.

Similar situations occurred on roads in Trường Sa and Hoàng Sa along Nhiêu Lộc-Thị Nghè canal of Districts 1, 3, Phú Nhuận, Bình Thạnh, Tân Bình and Tân Bình. Restaurant tables and motorbikes filled up the sidewalks.

“One month ago, when the campaign of removing sidewalk encroachment was at its peak, restaurant owners minded the authority’s patrol”, local resident Nguyễn Hữu Thành told the newspaper.

“But now, pavement encroachment is everywhere. We have to walk on the road”, he said.

Generally, police issue regular warnings to violators, but the minute police.

Nguyễn Gia Thái, deputy chairman of Bình Tân District, said the district has officers to patrol and give warnings to small traders, but due to a shortage of police officers, the violators resume their unlawful activities. The district will strive to allocate more inspectors to every ward and residential area to prevent re-encroachment, he said.

Lê Thanh Bình, deputy chairman of Tân Bình District, said the district government has asked wards to continue regular patrol and fined violators.

Responding to the rumour that pavement clearance has been halted, District 1 representatives have confirmed that the district is continuing its campaign.

Although local authorities insist that the clearance campaigns are being carried out regularly, city sidewalks and roads remain illegally encroached, said the Lao Động. -- VNS