Proposal for a comprehensive inspection of the project to upgrade the architectural and artistic relic of Go Cong Provincial Palace

Gò Công - Ảnh 1. — After the demolition, many items of the palace were damaged, causing outrage among the people - Photo: MAU TRUONG

Many violations

Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee has just reported on the implementation of the project "Upgrading the architectural and artistic relic of the Governor's Palace of Go Cong", clearly stating a series of violations in the preparation, appraisal, approval and construction stages of this special historical and cultural relic.

The report also proposed assigning the Provincial Inspectorate to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the project to clarify the responsibilities of the collective, individuals and related consulting units.

According to a report by the People's Committee of Dong Thap province, the project implementation process revealed many violations in investment procedures, appraisal, approval and construction organization.

Specifically, the name of the approved project is not consistent with the name of the recognized relic. The responsibility belongs to the People's Committee of Go Cong town when advising the People's Council to approve the wrong name of the relic;

The Go Cong Town Land Fund Development and Project Management Board prepared and submitted the Feasibility Study Report to an incompetent agency, the Urban Management Department, instead of sending it to the Department of Construction for appraisal as prescribed.

The Urban Management Department of Go Cong town organized the project appraisal without authority, lacking the content of the total investment appraisal;

Gò Công - Ảnh 2. — Overgrown grass covers the entire facade of the palace - Photo: MAU TRUONG

The People's Committee of Go Cong town approved the feasibility study report without consulting the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the relic restoration plan, without determining the project management form and without sufficient basis to approve the total investment.

During the design phase, many errors continued to occur, such as submitting design appraisals to the wrong authority, determining estimates under the wrong authority, the scale of the implemented design was not consistent with the basic design; violations were also identified in the selection of contractors.

Stop construction, comprehensive inspection

The project officially started in February 2023. By the end of April 2023, most of the palace's old architecture had been demolished, leaving only a small part of the facade. The incident angered local residents and prompted them to report it to the authorities.

Gò Công - Ảnh 3. — Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee proposed assigning Dong Thap Provincial Inspectorate to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the project to clarify the responsibilities of relevant collectives, individuals and consulting units - Photo: MAU TRUONG

Upon receiving the feedback, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tien Giang province went to the construction site to make a record and at the same time requested the People's Committee of Go Cong town to temporarily stop construction.

At this point, the cost related to upgrading the project has reached about 1.8 billion VND including the cost of preparing documents, designing, examining, insurance and the volume of construction already done.

From the above violations, the People's Committee of Dong Thap province proposed to assign the Provincial Inspectorate to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the project "Upgrading the architectural and artistic relic of the Governor's Palace of Go Cong".

The Inspectorate will clarify the responsibilities of each organization, individual and related consulting units, and review the entire legal, financial and technical processes of the project.

After the inspection conclusion, the Provincial People's Committee will consider and handle according to the provisions of law, ensuring transparency, administrative discipline and preserving the cultural and historical values of the relic.

Gò Công - Ảnh 4. — The construction site has been fenced and locked for many months now - Photo: MAU TRUONG

The relic is the first residence in Cochinchina of the previous regime's government apparatus, solidly built by the French Republic with materials transported from the Motherland in 1885.

In 2016, the People's Committee of Tien Giang province (old) agreed to let the People's Committee of Go Cong town conduct a quality inspection of the architectural and artistic relic of the Go Cong Provincial Governor's Palace.

Through actual inspection, it was assessed that most of the structural components of the project such as: Floor, wall, roof, foundation structure of Go Cong Provincial Governor's Palace do not ensure safety and load-bearing capacity. It is necessary to develop a plan to restore and repair the relic to preserve its value.

By 2022, the People's Committee of Go Cong town approved the project to Upgrade the architectural relic of Go Cong Provincial Palace. The project investor is the Project Management Board and Land Fund Development of Go Cong town.

The project aims to restore and maintain historical architectural works, ensuring sustainable cultural development of the locality from the perspective of preserving cultural relics, preserving and promoting historical and cultural values of Tien Giang province, as well as to preserve the material and spiritual values of an architectural relic that contributes to creating a unique soul for Go Cong ancient town. The project has a total investment of nearly 32 billion VND (31,948,612,269 VND) from the budget of Go Cong town.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-xuat-thanh-tra-toan-dien-du-an-nang-cap-di-tich-kien-truc-nghe-thuat-dinh-tinh-go-cong-20251101110450992.htm