ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city has fined the owners of an illegally enlarged beach resort in Ngũ Hành Sơn District VNĐ100 million (US$4,400) and will dismantle all buildings involved after January 18.

Director of the city’s construction department, Vũ Quang Hùng, said at a press conference yesterday that the department, in co-operation with local officials, would ensure The Song Đà Nẵng Beach Villa project on Non Nước beach would be restricted to the plans submitted.

Hùng said illegal construction of villas and bungalows at the resort was discovered last May and a suspension order made, but the project owner, the Sóng Việt tourism urban development company, refused to stop building.

The department then forced the project owner to back down by ordering heavy fines for a series of violations on December 22 last year.

Hùng said the project owner was compelled to demolish villas and bungalows as well as a concrete dyke before January 18 or the local administration would do the work.

According to the department, the beach villa project, which is being built on 120,000sq.m, was designed with 37 villas, of which 20 villas had been completed.

The investor suspended construction in 2011, but only due to financial difficulties. It resumed construction in early 2017.

An inspection team from the department found that the investor expanded the coverage of 19 villas from an approved 5,000sq.m (264sq.m each villa) to 6,975sq.m (346sq.m each villa). Another 18 illegally expandeed villas were also started, going from 182sq.m to 194sq.m each.

Meanwhile, seven bungalows were found to have expanded balconies. Trees and gardens were illegally developed on public beaches..

In 2016, the department also suspended illegal construction at the Mường Thanh Apartment project in Ngũ Hành Sơn District when the investor changed designs for a kindergarten and parking area into 104 flats for sale.

The city also plans to negotiate with 33 beach resort project owners to make sure they reserve pathways for the public and tourists. — VNS