At Thursday’s press conference, Da Nang People’s Committee Huynh Duc Tho re-affirmed the city’s consistent stance on taking stronger measures to handle unlicensed construction projects.

Chairman Tho presiding over the press conference on some local issues of deep concern (Photo: Son Trung)

The municipal government leader urged the district and ward/commune-level authorities to tighten their State management on this matter. 

In particular, Chairman Tho also underlined a must for project developers to have their administrative procedures totally handled right before starting their construction work.

If investors are found violating the national construction regulations, their already-completed projects will not be allowed to be used, transferred or leased in line with the national laws.

Covering an area of 120,000m² in Ngu Hanh Son District’s Hoa Hai Ward, the Song - Danang Beach Villas project, developed by the Song Viet tourism urban development company, is a notorious example of the current illegal construction matter.

According to the municipal Construction Department, the previously-approved beach villa project was designed with 37 villas, of which 20 had been completed.

The project developer suspended construction in 2011 due to financial difficulties, and its construction work was resumed in early 2017.

An inspection team from the department found that the developer expanded the coverage of 19 villas from an approved 5,000m² (264m² each villa) to 6,975m² (346m² each villa).  Another 18 illegally expandeed villas were also started, going from 182m² to 194m² each.

Meanwhile, 7 bungalows were found to have expanded balconies.  Also, trees and gardens were illegally developed on public beaches.

A view of the Song - Danang Beach Villas project (Photo: Son Trung)

On 22 December 2017, the Ngu Hanh Son District authorities imposed 100 million VND in fine on the project for its construction violations mentioned above.  Regardless of the city authorities’ strict moves, the project’s developer refused to stop conducting construction activities. 

Addressing the press conference, the leader of the city’s Construction Department emphasised the need for the municipal government to impose even heavier punishment on the project’s owner.

The municipal Department of Construction will be responsible for summiting a report to the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board about re-checking coastal projects in Ngu Hanh Son District.  Special heed will be paid to creating more seaside public areas for locals and visitors.

Chairman Tho revealed that the city authorities are continuously asking for permission from the national government to develop the soon-to-be-built deep-sea Lien Chieu Port into a major cargo port through which general and container cargo, and liquid products will be transported.  The current Tien Sa Port will be converted the into a special-use port for cruise ships in the future years.

By the end of the 1^st quarter of this year, the municipal government will have issued action plans for implementing the year’s top priority resolution on appealing for more domestic and foreign investment into the city.

With regard to solutions to the existing traffic congestion in the city centre, importance will be attached to restricting over 40-seater vehicles from travelling along inner-city streets, as well as creating even more public parking areas in the coming time.