VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities are set to demolish next month most of the 500 houses illegally built in HCM City, especially in Binh Chanh District, a People's Committee meeting heard on Friday.

Illegal constructions are taken down in Binh Chanh District, HMC City. Authorities are set to demolish the remainder of the 500 houses that have been built without permission next month.

The other locations where people have built them in violation of construction norms are the suburban districts of Thu Duc, Binh Tan, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Go Vap and Tan Phu.

They have been built without construction licences and on lands not designated for housing.

Binh Chanh had 830 illegal constructions, but 430 have been pulled down already and the rest will be demolished by August 15, according to a report the district People's Committee tabled at the meeting.

Most are in the communes of Vinh Loc A and B and would be knocked down by August 15, though 37 of them would be reprieved because they are on land meant for housing, Tran Trong Tuan, director of the Department of Construction, said.

But commune authorities need to instruct the owners of these buildings to apply for construction permission as required by the law, he said.

Flouting of construction regulations in Binh Chanh is mainly found in newly developed urban areas like Vinh Loc A and B.

Mismanagement of urban development is thought to be the major reasons for such violation of construction laws.

Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the city People's Committee, was quoted by Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper as saying that authorities in districts and the department would be held responsible.

Tuan told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, however, that commune chairpersons have the primary responsibility.

Source: VNS