The People's Committee of Soc Son district has just reported to Hanoi City on the management and handling of violations on forest land. Specifically, the district said that after the inspection conclusion of the Hanoi City Inspectorate (March 2019), up to now, there have been 139 cases of land violations with construction works in the area.

Of which, the People's Committee of Soc Son district has directed Minh Tri and Minh Phu communes to handle 94 cases. "In the 45 cases of violations, there are some constructions that have been and are being built at Ban Tien lake (Minh Phu commune) and Dong Do lake (Minh Tri commune) as reported by the press", the People's Committee of Soc Son district said.

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Many structures were built at the foot of the mountain and the edge of Dong Do Lake. Photo: Quang Phong

To let the above situation happen, the People's Committee of Soc Son district has inspected and considered the responsibility of the officials of Minh Phu and Minh Tri communes. Thereby, disciplinary action has been taken against 11 individuals.

Specifically, Soc Son district dismissed the Chairman of Minh Phu Commune People's Committee and issued a warning to the Chairman of Minh Tri Commune People's Committee. In addition, 9 officials from these two communes were reprimanded, including 2 Vice Chairmen of the Commune People's Committee, 4 officials of the urban construction order management team, and 3 commune land officials.

The People's Committee of Soc Son district said that in the coming time, it will continue to direct the People's Committees of Minh Phu, Minh Tri communes and communes with forests to classify remaining violations to handle them in accordance with the law; resolutely handle newly arising violations right from the beginning.

In particular, Soc Son district will consolidate records and transfer cases of buying, selling, transferring forest land, land occupation and destruction of forest land to the police for handling according to the provisions of law...

Previously, in March 2019, the Hanoi Inspectorate issued two conclusions on forest land inspections in Soc Son district, stating that there were thousands of violations, most of which were forest land violations. In the two communes of Minh Phu and Minh Tri alone and the area around the 7 large lakes in the forest planning, there were 797 violating constructions.

Close-up of the 'mega project' encroaching on Soc Son forest

Close-up of the 'mega project' encroaching on Soc Son forest

Despite the dangers of landslides during the rainy season, Soc Son Lake and Forest (Hanoi) are still being encroached upon, making way for private villas and homestays.
Another series of illegal constructions on filling up the lake bed in Soc Son protective forest

Another series of illegal constructions on filling up the lake bed in Soc Son protective forest

Not only is there a situation of mountains being cleared to build houses, but a series of lakes and ponds in Soc Son protective forest have also been filled in to build solid structures to serve the opening of shops and homestays.
'Buying and selling Soc Son forest land is illegal'

'Buying and selling Soc Son forest land is illegal'

According to Mr. Le Minh Tuyen, Head of the Hanoi Forestry Department, the transfer of forest land in Soc Son district is illegal, and the government confirmed that it has been handled.