Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed authorities at Gia Lam District's Ninh Hiep Commune to investigate complaints about the construction of a trade centre.

Many students did not attend Ninh Hiep Secondary School on Monday and Tuesday, as local residents opposed the building of a trade centre there. — Photo tuoitre.vn

Officials have been ordered to submit a report about the residents' complaints to the Prime Minister by January 31, 2016.

Further, the Chairman of Ha Noi People's Committee has been authorized to review petitions submitted by Hong Thi Vinh, Nguyen Van Hien and other residents from Ninh Hiep Commune regarding a number of projects underway at the commune.

On Monday, thousands of people gathered in front of the commune's People' Committee office to oppose the demolition of a parking lot in the commune's centre to allow for the building of a trade centre.

Local residents complained that two centres had been earlier built there, but were operating ineffectively, noting that few customers shop at these centres.

Residents added that they did not want to trade inside the centre due to the high cost of rents and difficulties in trading if the centre was built.

Protesters also asked their children to stay home, instead of going to school, to put additional pressure on local authorities.

Local authorities have worked with the schools' management boards to explain the situation to the residents and encourage them to allow their children to resume school.

According to Gia Lam District's Education and Training Department, school attendance has returned to normal.  As of Thursday morning, 1,032 out of 1646 primary students and 316 of 940 secondary students had returned to schools, the department said. 

VNS