VietNamNet Bridge - Recognizing asynchrony between conservation and development of relics, Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi said that next week he will go to the Duong Lam ancient village to directly listen to people's comments.

Living like prehistoric men, Duong Lam villagers cry for help

Two-story houses in ancient village of Duong Lam

Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi.

At the meeting with Hanoi’s voters on May 14, Nghi said he had heard some information about the recent incident in Duong Lam commune, Son Tay district, Hanoi. Some local people signed a petition to return the title “national relic” because of the strict management regulations make their lives very hard.

"Not all households signed the petition but this is the reaction showing the synchronicity between conservation and development, especially when the relic is associated with everyday life. I am very sympathetic to the people. We must make it favorable for people to live," he said.

The Hanoi Party Chief said that next week he will go to Duong Lam to listen to the minds of the people in order to deal with their problems.

According to Nghi, Hanoi has more than 5,000 relics, including 2,500 relics that have been ranked.

The same day, the Hanoi People's Committee discussed many issues on the management and conservation of the ancient village of Duong Lam. Chairman Nguyen The Thao asked the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture to quickly assess the planning of Duong Lam Commune to submit to the Hanoi People's Committee for approval.

The Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment has to assess the project on population relaxing in Duong Lam village and the Hanoi Department of Construction has to issue regulations that allow Son Tay town to facilitate local people to repair and build houses. The city will grant fund for preserving some old houses in the village.

According to the report of the Chairman of Son Tay town – Mr. Dang Vu Nhat Thang, in the last five years, Duong Lam commune had 179 households that built and upgraded their houses. The local construction inspectors imposed fines and asked 94 families to stop the construction. They also forced the family of Mrs. Ha Thi Khanh to remove the second story in October 2010.

Early in 2013, due to lax management, many households voluntarily built or repaired their houses illegally. The People’s Committee of Son Tay town directed Duong Lam commune to handle these cases, which then caused upset among the families that were fined and forced to remove the illegal works.

To ensure people's lives as well as conservation, Son Tay town leaders suggested that the city establishes a resettlement area for the Duong Lam villagers and provides fund for the repair and conservation of ancient houses of over 100 years old.

Nguyen Hoang