VietNamNet Bridge – Together with Ha Noi and HCM City, the northern port city of Hai Phong is implementing a campaign to return pavements to the pedestrians.

Inspectors clear pavement in Hong Bang District, the northern port city of Hai Phong.

Leaders of wards’ people’s committees will bear responsibility if pavement encroachment reoccurs, the city’s authorities have said.

Le Chan District is one of three districts in the city where there is almost no space left on pavements for pedestrians. Clearance of the pavements is, thus, one of the main points in the district’s action plan.

Nguyen Trong Dai, head of the district Urban Management Division, said this year all 15 wards in the district have prepared plans on ensuring traffic safety, pavement and road order and environmental protection.

District inspectors will patrol the areas and impose strict penalties on those people encroaching upon roads and pavements for personal purposes, trading or parking. The inspectors have been instructed to destroy illegal billboards and slogans.

Pham Van Tan, deputy chairman of the district People’s Committee, said the district has assigned enough workers to check every house and warn lawbreakers.

Le Chan District is also considering installing cameras on several main streets. The video footage will provide actual evidence to the police and inspectors while deciding penalties to be imposed on violators.

Similar actions are being undertaken in the city’s Hong Bang District since last week.

Duong Dinh On, deputy chairman of the district People’s Committee, said earlier, the district’s inspectors penalised people encroaching upon pavements, but the penalty was not severe enough, so people continue to repeat violations, especially in the Tam Bac River area.

Hong Bang District’s action period is on from March 10 until March 20.

Last month, the district informed residents about the action period, so that they could volunteer to destroy any construction that encroached upon pavements.

As many as 100 people, including district leaders, police and traffic inspectors, are participating in the action period.

Last week, Ha Noi launched a campaign that targets removing illegally parked cars, shops, extended canopies and other obstructions. HCM City began its campaign last month.

VNS