Why do projects violating irrigation corridors that have been "whistled" still exist?

Previously, on August 2, 2024, Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper reported on Mr. Bui Duy Van's illegal construction in Thanh Duc ecological service cluster and within the protection area of Dinh Dao canal irrigation project.

Accordingly, this business household was granted a license by the Department of Irrigation (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) to construct the Thanh Duc ecological service cluster within the protection area of the Dinh Dao canal irrigation project. However, this business household arbitrarily built 2 new projects not included in the license on November 17, 2023. The 2 projects have a construction area of more than 2,800m², the structure includes steel columns on reinforced concrete foundations, cement concrete floors, and corrugated iron roofs.

Part of the construction violates the protection corridor of the irrigation works running along Dinh Dao canal. Photo: Tien Bao

Speaking to reporters of the Economic & Urban Newspaper, the leader of the Cau Xe - An Tho Construction Management Station (Bac Hung Hai Irrigation Construction Exploitation Company Limited) said that on December 13, 2023, after inspection, the Station discovered that the investor had constructed the project in violation of the license. After that, the Station and the People's Committee of Minh Duc Commune made a record requesting to stop the construction and report to the authorities.

Overview of the project. Photo: Tien Bao

On January 9, 2024, representatives of the Department of Irrigation, Tu Ky District People's Committee, Minh Duc Commune People's Committee and Bac Hung Hai Company drew up a record of administrative violations against Mr. Bui Duy Van, the business owner, and at the same time requested Mr. Van to stop the construction of a steel structure house that is not in accordance with the content of the license.

Road to the construction site. Photo: Vinh Quan

On January 19, 2024, the Chairman of Tu Ky District People's Committee issued a decision to impose an administrative fine of 40 million VND, along with an additional penalty: revoking the right to use the license for 2 months and forcing the restoration of the original status.

From February to June, the violating household did not comply with the request to stop construction and continued to build. The Cau Xe - An Tho Construction Management Station has reported to the locality many times and coordinated with the People's Committee of Minh Duc commune and the functional agencies of Tu Ky district to make a record. However, to date, only a small part of the illegal construction has been dismantled. The part of the construction that was built without a permit has not yet completed legal procedures.

The representative of the Cau Xe - An Tho Construction Management Station requested the People's Committee of Tu Ky district to strictly and decisively handle this violating construction to set an example, to avoid other violations taking advantage of the delay in handling to not comply with the law.

The violating part has not been removed by the business owner because he is still completing additional paperwork. Photo: Vinh Quan

The leader of Tu Ky District People's Committee said that Mr. Bui Duy Van's household had demolished about 290m² (size 72m x 4m) of the level 4 house built in the protection corridor of the irrigation project, but there was still about 140m² of the level 4 house (size 28m x 5m) that had not been demolished.

In the coming time, the district will continue to direct the People's Committee of Minh Duc commune to coordinate with specialized agencies and Bac Hung Hai Company to request Mr. Van to dismantle the remaining part. If Mr. Van does not voluntarily dismantle, the People's Committee of Minh Duc commune will develop a plan to clear the area before October 31, 2024.

Hundreds of square meters of dike have become the project's private path, solidly poured with concrete and planted with many trees. Photo: Vinh Quan

In addition, for the construction part that is not in accordance with the license, the district requested Mr. Van to complete the project adjustment dossier and submit it to the Department of Irrigation for approval in 2024, informed a representative of Tu Ky District People's Committee.

Discussing the violations of the construction, Mr. Nguyen Duc Manh, Chairman of Minh Duc Commune People's Committee, said that, implementing Notice No. 771-TB/HU dated September 9, 2024 of Tu Ky District Party Committee, Minh Duc Commune People's Committee requested Mr. Van to dismantle the remaining part of the violating construction before September 30, 2024. However, up to now, Mr. Van has not yet done so.