A corner of the Youth Park, which has been encroached by food vendors. — Photo hanoimoi.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội’s People’s Committee has announced it will investigate the construction and management of the Youth Park, which was meant to become a key leisure option in the city but has been left abandoned and encroached for business purposes.

At a recent conference, the committee said the violations at the Youth Park in Hai Bà Trưng District were complex and longstanding.

The park costed an investment capital of VNĐ282 billion (US$12.1 million).

The park was designed with pools and slides. The 30-metre water slide, once considered the most modern in the city, is now covered in dust and moss. All the facilities, including stairs that led to the pools, are damaged beyond repair.

The park has instead been used for parking or private businesses such as food street vendors, restaurants and sports centres.

The city’s Department of Construction said there were 14 construction works not in keeping with the park's planning or built without licences.

According to the committee, violations have been found in the process of operating parks. Specifically, organisations and individuals wrongly implemented regulations of corporate financial management, investment co-operation and granting construction permits.

In addition, financial documents of the State-owned Capital Youth Services and Investment Company Ltd, the investor of the park, were incomplete and not recorded in accordance with regulations, making it difficult to identify the origin of assets and collate debts.

During the park construction period, some State management agencies did not fulfil their responsibilities. They failed to give feasible advice and there were signs of loose management on land and construction.

Although the city’s inspectorate has made efforts to verify the violations, a comprehensive inspection is needed to clarify more violations in corporate financial management, investment co-operation, land use management, regulatory management plan, and construction investment management.

Based on that, the inspectorate will clarify the responsibilities of agencies, organisations, individuals and businesses involved and propose solutions to the city People's Committee before the end of this month.

The committee has asked the city inspectorate to invite relevant agencies, organisations, individuals and businesses to explain the violations.

The city inspectorate can demand the participation of specialised agencies of the city to propose measures to handle each violation in each field. — VNS