Mini apartment building with extra floors has powerful backing

On the morning of September 18, speaking with VietNamNet reporters on the sidelines of a conference to contribute opinions from former city leaders to the draft Law on the Capital, former Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi said that in the capital, there was not only the mini apartment building that caught fire at No. 37, Lane 29/70, Khuong Ha Street (Khuong Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan) that was built illegally, but there were also many other construction works that exceeded the number of floors.

Cut the top as you go up the stairs.

However, Mr. Nghi said that there is a reality, which is to fine illegal constructions to keep them alive. According to him, if only fines are given to keep them alive, investors will "hope to be fined" to legalize the violation. Because they earn huge profits from the illegal constructions. For this profit, investors will use it to lobby, bribe, and then still make a profit so they continue to violate.

Mr. Pham Quang Nghi, former Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee.

Therefore, he believes that violations should not be punished, but should be cut off to the extent of the violation, cutting off as many layers as there are layers.

According to Mr. Pham Quang Nghi, if the construction is allowed to exist, the construction officer will have a reason to report that the project has been administratively sanctioned without carrying out enforcement.

"Punishment for existence is a legal accomplice to the violation, so it is necessary to review and clarify responsibilities," said the former Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.

Mr. Pham Quang Nghi said that behind every project, mini apartment building built with more floors than permitted, there is a large force backing it up.

“Behind each project is a backer! We are not only facing the violating project owner, we are also facing the backer,” Mr. Nghi shared.

Need to strictly handle the issue of responsibility of officials

Referring to the content of how to make lower-level authorities strictly implement the direction of the Hanoi People's Committee in handling illegal constructions, Mr. Nghi said that the city needs to be strict about handling the responsibility of officials. If lower-level authorities violate and are not handled, then higher-level authorities must be handled.

The mini apartment building that caught fire was built by Nghiem Quang Minh with 3 floors higher than the permit.

Regarding the current situation of mini apartments "growing like mushrooms" in Hanoi, former Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen The Thao said that it is necessary to soon supplement regulations on mini apartments to better manage this project. Otherwise, investors will continue to transform individual houses into lodgings and mini apartments, which poses many potential risks.

Previously, on September 13, a 9-storey mini apartment building on Khuong Ha Street (Thanh Xuan District) caught fire, killing 56 people and injuring 37. Of the 29 students involved, 13 died, the rest are being treated at the hospital.

This project was built by Mr. Nghiem Quang Minh (44 years old, residing in Yen Hoa ward, Cau Giay, Hanoi) 3 floors higher than the granted permit.

Responding to the press, Mr. Dang Hong Thai, former Vice Chairman of Thanh Xuan District People's Committee, said that after determining that the homeowner had built without a permit, he had issued two documents directing punishment; at the same time, he had issued a decision to enforce and assigned the Chairman of Khuong Dinh Ward People's Committee to implement the decision to enforce.

However, the 3 floors built illegally by Mr. Nghiem Quang Minh have not yet been enforced.

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