VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi People's Committee has asked local authorities to inspect and fine land use violations in the districts of Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, Tay Ho and Tu Liem. The inspections, on an area of nearly 50ha, will continue through mid-August.

The city made the order following media and citizen reports of land violations on Pham Hung, Le Van Van Luong, Tran Duy Hung and Hoang Quoc Viet streets, necessitating inspections of these areas, said the director of the city's Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Vu Van Hau.

Land with uses not in compliance with the city's comprehensive plan would be confiscated, Hau affirmed.

According to initial department investigations, over 30ha of land lay idle despite having received development permits from the city, while another 16ha was being used for such wrongful pusposes as car parks, garages, football fields, and restaurants.

Real estate developers with large areas of land put to wrongful uses include Ha Noi Housing Development and Investment Corporation, Song Da Construction Corporation, Industrial Construction Co, Ha Noi Urban Architecture Consulting Joint Stock Co and Tu Liem District's Land Development Centre.

Hau acknowledged that some projects had been delayed due to shortcomings in administrative procedures or the impacts of the econonic downturn, and he vowed that these cases would receive consideration prior to being made subject to fines or land confiscation.

Ha Noi People's Committee vice chairman Vu Hong Khanh said land use inspections would occur more regularly in the future in order to minimise violations of land use laws and delays to projects. Confiscated land use rights would be put up for auction in accordance with the law.

Businesses found in violation would be required to halt illegal uses and return all gains from these uses to the city budget, Khanh said.

The latest move by the People's Committee followed its decision last week to confiscate 8.2ha of land from eleven businesses.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News