“We have granted licenses to many tourism projects in recent years, while forgetting t to protect the environment, forests and mountains, rivers and the sea. Problems can be found in nearly all projects,” said Nguyen Tan Tuan, chair of Khanh Hoa People’s Council at a session on the socio-economic development in the first half of 2019.

According to Nguyen Ngo, a member of the council, 20 projects have been licensed or approved on Co Tien Mountain which has an area of 1,480 hectares.

Most of them are housing projects. Some projects are small, with the area of 2-3 hectares only, but investors could obtain licenses.

The development program of the zone has not been approved and the infrastructure system has not been completed, but projects have been licensed. This has led to a reduction in green area and high risks of landslides.

On March 15, 2018, the provincial People’s Committee released a document agreeing in principle on the 1/200 scale development programming in Cam Lam district and Nha Trang City to facilitate the development of a 4,000 hectare project, which comprises 3,000 hectares of special-use and protective forests.

However, the PM’s Decision No 1976 dated October 24, 2014, the Instruction No 13 of the Central Secretariat Committee, and the government’s Resolution No 71 all prohibit using natural forests, especially special-use and protective forests, for other purposes.

Ngo asked to clarify if the provincial authorities’ decision is contrary to these documents, and if Khanh Hoa has to sacrifice green areas and geological background for tourism development, since tourism projects can be developed in other areas.

Nearly all mountain areas in Nha Trang City are fully occupied by investors to develop tourism projects. Giang Huong Mountain, for example, has been reserved for six projects, Chin Khuc Mountain, 7; Hon Ro, 13; Chut Mountain, 8; and Hon Thi, 7.

Ngo asked to re-examine all the projects, saying that Khanh Hoa must not exchange its natural geological conditions and beauty for business projects.

A member of the people’s council also expressed his concerns about the urban development program. In many areas of Nha Trang City, no limit on the height of buildings has been set, which means there will be 40-60-storey buildings. If so, what will happen with the beaches if the high-rise building hide the view of the sea and prevent sea winds?

Chi Mai 

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