Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha speaks at an NA meeting session on June 4
Ha admitted that urban planning adjustments are common and need to change. In order to improve the quality of life and urban planning, they need a new way of thinking and method about building and planning. After that is to improve the standards and criteria for good urban planning.
When Deputy Tran Van Tien from Vinh Phuc Province questioned about adjustments made to the urban planning because of requests or pressure from corporations, Ha said they hadn't detected any violations but they would not exclude such cases. Next year, the Ministry of Construction will launch an inspection and review several detailed plannings, especially in major cities.
"We haven't had any details about investors, projects or adjustments. I think that pressures from investors are a factor. However, I also think that there may be two types of investors. The ones with aims to bring benefits to both the localities and their companies and those who only want to make profits," he said.
Deputy Phan Viet Luong said many real estate projects were adjusted several times and in the end, their final number of floors is higher than permitted. Deputy Tran Quoc Khanh from Hanoi said investors were only allowed to build up to nine-storey buildings in four inner districts of Hanoi but who would take responsibility for a 60-storey building there.
Ha said such case was a clear violation and suggested that Hanoi authorities should check and deal with violators accordingly.
