Illegal construction and encroachment on public land will face tougher action from the municipal authorities of the newly expanded Ha Noi, according to officials.

Ha Noi's Duong Noi and Phu Luong communes, formerly in Ha Tay Province, have became hotbeds for illegal construction and land encroachment in the run-up to the establishment of the new capital this month.

According to Ha Dong City's People's Committee, there were more than 76 reported cases of illegal construction works in the first four months of this year on 0.51 ha of land in Duong Noi Commune. In Phu Luong, there were more than 20 cases of land-use deeds being changed from cultivated to uncultivated and of construction works being carried out without official authorization between early April to May.

A representative of an investment company in Duong Noi Commune said local residents believed they would be paid higher compensation following change of land-use when the capital was enlarged.

Earlier, a group of staff established by the local authority was charged with checking land-usage certificates and with demolishing illegal buildings. Although hundreds of violation were reported, no-one has been punished.

Trinh Ba Nhan, from Duong Noi Commune's People's Committee said management of land use had been ineffective, causing discovery of violations to be delayed.

To crack down on lawbreakers, Ha Noi City's Department of Construction set up an inspection department and tasked it with looking into alleged land violations, and with withdrawing land-use certificates and with demolishing illegal buildings where necessary.

The city's People's Committee also issued decree 23/2008 and 33/2008 saying that illegal land-use transfers would not receive compensation under any circumstances.

Source: Vietnam News