Questioning the Minister of Construction: 'Hot' urban planning

(Baonghean.vn) - Responding to questions from National Assembly deputies, Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha said that urban planning management still has many shortcomings and limitations.

In her opening remarks, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan asked National Assembly deputies to briefly question and clarify relevant issues; Government members need to answer questions directly, not avoid them, and clearly state solutions and a specific roadmap for resolution so that voters nationwide can follow and monitor.

Next, under the direction of Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien, the delegates questioned Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha.

National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (National Assembly Committee on Social Affairs); Nguyen Thanh Thuy (Hau Giang); Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap) requested the Minister to clarify the Ministry's responsibilities in urban management; in handling illegal construction works, encroachment on public land; solutions to prevent waste in investment and construction...

“Is there a situation of taking advantage of the knowledge of planning in advance for personal gain? What is the Minister’s responsibility to overcome this?”, delegate Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy (National Assembly’s Committee on Social Affairs) asked.

Responding to questions from delegates, Minister Pham Hong Ha said that general construction planning as well as urban planning is a master plan with strict standards and norms to ensure people's lives in both the present and the future. Urban planning has recently received attention in terms of both institutional building and implementation, and has initially achieved remarkable results.

However, Minister Pham Hong Ha also admitted that urban planning has not met quality requirements, lacks uniformity, even within the same planning, and implementation resources are limited.

Explaining the reasons for the limitations, the Minister said that state management agencies have not performed their duties well; planning information has not been public and transparent... Community supervision, inspection, examination and handling of violations are still limited... leading to specific consequences for urban development such as: traffic congestion, ineffective land use, violations of construction permits, land encroachment...

Regarding the issue of whether there is profiteering in planning or not? The Minister said that in general we have done well, but in some specific cases there are signs of profiteering.

The Minister takes responsibility for the Ministry of Construction in building institutions and calculating development criteria in planning; planning procedures are still complicated, still focus on management goals, and lack feasibility...

Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha answers questions. Photo: TL

The head of the Construction sector said that in the coming time, the Ministry will continue to advise the Government and the National Assembly to perfect regulations and institutions on planning to ensure quality improvement and prevent waste in planning.

Specifically, the Ministry will review calculation methods, related standards and regulations to amend and eliminate some unnecessary, duplicated, and contradictory procedures and processes, for example in construction licensing and project appraisal, etc.

At the same time, strengthen coordination with localities in organizing and monitoring the implementation of special planning in inspection and examination work, prevent arbitrary planning adjustments, prevent interest groups from taking advantage of planning; strengthen people's supervision in planning construction and implementation....

Regarding the situation of illegal construction, the Minister admitted that this is a real reality. Although it has been on a downward trend in recent times, it is still very large. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen management, especially in large cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City...

Scene at Nghe An bridge. Photo: T.L

At this session, the Nghe An National Assembly delegation also recommended that the Minister of Construction propose solutions to address the situation of investing in the construction of too many apartment buildings in concentrated residential areas, creating pressure on traffic and social issues. Many projects were implemented without construction permits and without timely inspection and handling, causing negative public opinion.

In addition to the explanation of Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha, in this question and answer session, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, members of the Government and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee also explained further related issues.

Thanh Le