VietNamNet Bridge - As land prices in urban areas escalate, real estate developers are expanding toward the sea. Scientists warn that the encroachment may cause serious consequences.

Ninh Binh-based Phuc Loc Group has asked Binh Dinh provincial authorities to approve  a project on an urban area near the sea in Quy Nhon City. The project faces strong opposition from locals. 

“Our view is that we must not exchange the rare natural landscape plus precious humanitarian and cultural values for a human-made project,” said Nguyen Huynh, chair of the Binh Dinh provincial Architects Association.

At a recent meeting discussing mangrove forests in coastal areas, Pham Binh Quyen from the Environment & Sustainable Development Institute warned that massive encroachment on sea had been carried out recently, while many mangrove and protective forests in coastal areas have been wiped out to serve business purposes.

“With the horrible devastation of the typhoons in the second half of last year in the central region, these urban areas encroaching on the sea will be unsafe,” he said.

Pham Binh Quyen from the Environment & Sustainable Development Institute warned that massive encroachment on sea had been carried out recently, while many mangrove and protective forests in coastal areas have been wiped out to serve business purposes.

Scientists from the Vietnam Union of Science & Technology Associations (VUSTA) said it was necessary to carefully program such projects instead of doing it on a massive scale.

Nguyen Dinh Hoe from Hanoi National University said Vietnam needs to draw up an overall plan for such projects.

“The environmentally sensitive areas, including sanctuaries and natural landscapes, must not be touched. The encroachment in unprotected areas can be implemented, but all projects must be considered thoroughly to discover possible impact on the environment,” he said.

However, some experts pointed out that the requirement on environmental impact reports cannot help. In many cases, investors just submit reports to satisfy formalities. 

VRN (Vietnam River Network) Vietnam, for example, recently pointed out that the report made by Toan Thinh Phat on a project encroaching on Dong Nai River is ‘useless’.

In related news, the southern province of Kien Giang has approved a program on urban development through 2025, under which  a sea-encroaching urban area will be developed. Nguyen Quoc Su, chair of Rach Gia City, said together with Phu Cuong urban area, the sea encroaching urban area will meet housing demand from local people while beautifying the city. The artificial island has the investment capital of about VND2.2 trillion, or $98 million.

RELATED NEWS

Mekong blighted by river erosion

Mekong Delta struggles with erosion

Mai Thanh