VietNamNet Bridge – Many pavements in Ha Noi were cleared of encroachments in the two months after a campaign was launched to remove illegally parked cars, vendors, cafes, canopies and other obstructions, but the problem has recently resurfaced.

Ward police has issued regular warning to violators, but the minute police left, shop owners brought out chairs and other equipment obstructing the sidewalk in Thai Phien Street, Hai Ba Trung District.— Photo kinhtedothi.vn

An observation by a Kinh Te Do Thi (Economy and Urban Affairs) newspaper correspondent showed that on various streets of different districts, including Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung and Cau Giay, pavement encroachment had been rife at weekends.

Most violations were reported in the areas of the Hom and Troi markets, and streets with restaurants and coffee shops.

Ngo Thi Lan, a resident of Thai Phien Street in Hai Ba Trung District, said that ward police issued regular warning to violators, but the minute police left, shop owners brought out chairs and other equipment obstructing the sidewalk.

The same thing happened in Van Chuong Alley in Dong Da District. During two weekend days, traders of a temporary market displayed their goods on the pavements, on the road and even in front of the office of the Van Chuong Ward People’s Committee.

Vu Tien Hung, chairman of the Van Chuong Ward People’s Committee, said that the committee and ward police assigned officers to patrol and give warnings to small traders, but due to a shortage of police officers, the violators resumed their unlawful activities. The ward would strive to allocate more inspectors, he said.

Nguyen Thu Anh, deputy head of the Hai Ba Trung District Urban Management Division, said most of the violators were hard-working, poor small traders.

To maintain urban order sustainably, she said, a communication network should be set up to spread information to residents about the campaign to remove illegally parked cars, shops, extended canopies and other obstructions.

Dao Ngoc Nghiem, deputy chairman of the Ha Noi Urban Planning and Development Association, attributed the problem to lax supervision of the campaign. Local authorities’ role in giving administrative fines to violators was also not being implemented well, he said.

And lastly, he said, authorities did not resolve an important problem of ensuring the livelihood of low-income residents, so the violations will keep recurring.

Pham Sy Liem, deputy chairman of the Viet Nam Construction Federation, said that during the campaign, pavements in the capital were clear, but they were re-encroached after the campaign because inspectors slakened discipline. To maintain urban order, a task force with supervisors, punishments and funds were needed, he said.

Authorities should adopt international management principles known as the 3Is - information, incentive and interdiction, he said. The campaign did not: it banned parking and vendors, but did not create conditions for residents to continue their trading. Authorities should allocate space so that residents can trade legally. “Doing it, authorities will receive residents’ agreement,” said Liem. 

VNS