VietNamNet Bridge – Da Nang authorities will ask for State funding to build a sea dyke to prevent erosion in Son Tra Peninsula after a villa project in the area was eroded last week.

The Son Tra Mountain and Nature Reserve is seen from My Khe Beach in Da Nang City. — Photo: VNS

Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, Huynh Duc Tho made the statement at a press conference last week, saying that the project invested by Bien Tien Sa Joint Stock Company would be seriously eroded in the rainy season (from October).

Tho said the city, in co-operation with ministries and departments, will survey the situation of the project before asking for emergency funds for the dyke project.

According to architect Ho Duy Diem, a member of the Viet Nam Association of River Basin and Coastline Protection, red soil from the project subsided to Son Tra Beach last week due to heavy rains.

Diem warned that the erosion of the project would pollute the beach and coastal area of the Da Nang Bay (running from Son Tra Peninsula to the Hai Van Pass).

The project investor began building infrastructure and the foundations of 40 villas before completing environmental assessments.

It was suspended by the city as the infrastructure construction licence of the project had not been approved.

Earlier, the city had warned vice chairman of the Son Tra District’s People’s Committee, Nguyen Thanh Nam, for his irresponsible management of projects in Son Tra Nature Reserve.

According to reports from the city, 25 hotel and resorts projects in Son Tra Mountain had been approved by the city.

About 18 projects were under construction or in operation in the Son Tra Nature Reserve.

The 4,400ha Son Tra Nature Reserve, which is 600m above sea level, is known for its rich biodiversity, with 287 animal species and 985 plant species. It supplies oxygen for 4.3 million people each day.

Under the master plan, the Son Tra Mountain on the Son Tra Peninsula is to be developed into a national tourism site and a resort complex by 2030, accommodating 300,000 tourists in 1,600 luxury hotel rooms.

Huynh Tan Vinh, chairman of the city’s tourism association, also sent a petition to the PM, asking for changes to the Son Tra Master Plan.

VNS