ĐÀ NẴNG — Đà Nẵng authorities will ask for State funding to build a sea dyke to prevent erosion in Sơn Trà Peninsula after a villa project in the area was eroded last week.

Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, Huỳnh Đức Thơ made the statement at a press conference last week, saying that the project invested by Biển Tiên Sa Joint Stock Company would be seriously eroded in the rainy season (from October).

Thơ said the city, in co-operation with ministries and departments, will survey the situation of the project before asking for emergency funds for the dyke project.

According to architect Hồ Duy Diệm, a member of the Việt Nam Association of River Basin and Coastline Protection, red soil from the project subsided to Sơn Trà beach last week due to heavy rains.

Diệm warned that the erosion of the project would pollute the beach and coastal area of the Đà Nẵng Bay (running from Sơn Trà Peninsula to the Hải Vân Pass).

The project investor began building infrastructure and the foundations of 40 villas before completing environmental assessments.

It was suspended by the city as the infrastructure construction licence of the project had not been approved.

Earlier, the city had warned vice chairman of the Sơn Trà District’s People’s Committee, Nguyễn Thành Nam, for his irresponsible management of projects in Sơn Trà Nature Reserve.

According to reports from the city, 25 hotel and resorts projects in Sơn Trà Mountain had been approved by the city.

About 18 projects were under construction or in operation in the Sơn Trà Nature Reserve.

The 4,400ha Sơn Trà Nature Reserve, which is 600m above sea level, is known for its rich biodiversity, with 287 animal species and 985 plant species. It supplies oxygen for 4.3 million people each day.

Under the master plan, the Sơn Trà Mountain on the Sơn Trà Peninsula is to be developed into a national tourism site and a resort complex by 2030, accommodating 300,000 tourists in 1,600 luxury hotel rooms.

Huỳnh Tấn Vinh, chairman of the city’s tourism association, also sent a petition to the PM, asking for changes to the Sơn Trà Master Plan. — VNS