The government chief inspectorate has asked Hanoi's chairman to give a clear explanation of a controversial tree felling project that may have violated national laws covering the capital city.
Hanoi’s tree fell project stirs public outcry
Nguyen Duc Hanh, the government’s Deputy Chief Inspector, recently sent a document to the chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee, Nguyen The Thao, requesting him to review the approval and implementation of the project to cut down 6,700 trees across the city.
Hanh said the project had stirred up public outcry as it lacked transparency and may have been illegal.
“The Government’s Chief Inspectorate has requested that Hanoi’s Chairman take measures to prevent the same controversial tree felling in the near future and strictly protect trees in the city in accordance with the Law on the Capital City and relevant regulations,” the document said.
Hanoi's municipal People’s Committee must make a report to the Government Inspectorate before April 15.
National Assembly deputy Nguyen Sy Cuong said the municipal government’s approval of the mass tree culling project violated the Law on the Capital City.
“Article 14 in the Law on the Capital City stipulates that the management and protection of environment in the capital city must be sustainable along with maintaining natural, cultural and historical values as well as ensuring standard green tree rate,” Cuong said.
He said it was a matter of normal maintenance to remove sick trees or those at risk of falling, but to fell thousands of trees en masse would have a dramatic impact on the city’s streetscape and Hanoi’s authorities should have sought permission of the national government.
