Golf course developer ignores order to stop construction in northern Vietnam
Golf course developer ignores order to stop construction in northern Vietnam
The construction of a golf course in the northern Vietnamese city of Ha Long is still underway despite a cessation order from local authorities.
The FLC Halong Bay Golf Club & Luxury Resort (FLC Ha Long), a project developed by the Hanoi-based FCL Group, is being built on 224 hectares of land in Ha Long, the capital of Quang Ninh Province.
The project was initiated in March 2016 and since then the construction of a golf course pning several hectares has been nearly completed despite an order from authorities’ prohibiting the company to continue.
On Thursday, several trucks and excavators were still operating at the construction site while nearby residential areas are being plagued by pollution caused from the project.
In mid 2016, the work on the facility caused a mudslide that flooded homes at the foot of the hill where the construction is taking place.
Competent authorities later ordered that the developer cease its construction and deal with issues caused by the work, though their orders seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
According to D.K.T., a local resident, aside from the mudslide, houses in the area, including his and his neighbors’, are cracking from vibrations brought about by the heavy machinery used at the construction site.
About 100 households have been affected, while compensation for the damages is being made in a very sluggish manner, said Nguyen Binh Minh, another resident.
Each affected household has only been paid VND5 million (US$219.6) for the pollution, Minh stated, adding that damages to crops and houses have haven’t yet been compensated for.
A probe by Tuoi Tre showed that a working delegation had been established by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha on February 27 to evaluate the environmental impact of the FLC Ha Long project.
Following a survey on March 8, inspectors from the ministry ordered the developer to stop construction until they submit a proper environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Despite the decision, construction on the project continued to be carried out.
According to Hoang Viet Dung, head of the Quang Ninh Department of Environmental Protection, the firm submitted an incomplete EIA report in December 2016 and was subsequently denied.
Nguyen The Dong, deputy head of the Vietnam Environment Administration, affirmed that the developer had acted against the law in their execution of the project.
“We have ordered that the construction be ceased so that we may deal with those responsible. The developer shall not resume their operations until their complete EIA report is approved,” Dong asserted.
Regarding the fact that FLC Group had been ignoring previous orders from the environment ministry, Dong stated that the provincial administration and environment department were responsible for ensuring the firm’s compliance.
