Pham Quang Nghi, Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee, listening to villagers’ complaints
Pham Quang Nghi, Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee, led a working group to Duong Lam on May 21 to collect villagers’ opinions and try to find a solution to improve the situation.
Nghi called at houses that were recognised as old as well as families that had to halt construction on upgrades and extensions to their houses, or those that were forced to tear down additions.
Chairman of Son Tay Township People’s Committee, Dang Vu Nhat Thang, said the village encompasses a community of dozens of heritage sites, many of which have been nationally recognised.
According to Thang, there are 37 houses that were built between 200-400 years ago.
“Over the past few years, many families have tried to upgrade or expand their houses. Local authorities have dealt with 89 such households,” he noted.
Giang Tu Oanh, a local woman told Nghi that, while they are proud of the recognition their village received, they found that the heritage status has offered them little benefit.
“We’re also uncomfortable with the regulation that bans us from house upgrades and expansions,” Giang commented.
Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of Duong Lam communal People’s Committee, said villagers’ complaints are reasonable.
“In some cases, families with four generations living under one roof must share cramped homes in uncomfortable conditions,,” Thanh said.
Pham Quang Nghi responded by apologizing to villagers for their difficult conditions.
Nghi emphasised the necessity to work out more flexible measures to better support villagers.
“We can’t seek perfection when managing old villages that are still inhabited. It’s unrealistic to apply strict regulations to all local households. I do think that preservation restrictions should be applied to families with old homes while their neighbours with newer homes are able to make upgrades to their houses," he noted.
In order to deal violations of construction regulations, Nghi requested that local authorities carefully negotiate to work out suitable solutions that will also ensure some amount of fairness for villagers.
Associate Professor Dang Van Bai, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association, said complaints by villagers in Duong Lam are not altogether unique, as the same situation was seen in other places such as Hoi An when preservation efforts first started there.
“It's crucial that local authorities make an effort to understand the difficulties and needs of residents so a workable solution can be reached", Bai said.
Dr. Luu Minh Tri, Chairman of Thang Long Cultural Heritage Association, said the government should issue a special regulation to protect recognised houses in Duong Lam Village. Normal houses should be allowed to upgrade or expand under certain conditions.
Dang Vu Nhat Thang said the township made plan in April 2011 to build a 10.5-hectare resettlement area for villagers at an estimated cost of VND184 billion (USD8.77 million).
However, implementation has been sluggish as they are still waiting for the township’s planning and a plan to build a belt road in the area, Thang added.