Nghe An: Finalize plan to close and eliminate Do Luong commercial center market

Closing date, removing old market

On March 29, Chairman of the People's CommitteeDo Luong districtsigned Decision No. 807/QD-UBND, promulgating the Plan to organize the closure and elimination of Do Luong commercial center market in Do Luong town.

Decision No. 807/QD-UBND, promulgating the Plan to organize the closure and removal of the old market, has just been issued by the People's Committee of Do Luong district. Photo: Tien Dong

Previously, on April 6, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 881/QD-UBND to abolish Do Luong Commercial Center Market and dissolve the Do Luong Commercial Center Market Management Board on December 23, 2022.

After the decision of the Provincial People's Committee, the People's Committee of Do Luong district also issued plans and notifications to more than 1,000 households doing business and trading at Do Luong Trade Center Market. Most of the households agreed to the plan proposed by the People's Committee of Do Luong district and agreed to move to the new market area to do business and trade. However, there are still more than 10 households that are still reluctant to move to the new market area, even though the People's Committee of Do Luong district has issued many notifications, received people and responded to petitions...

The old Do Luong market has now deteriorated, and this area is currently planned to build a park. Photo: Tien Dong

According to Planorganize the closure and elimination of Do Luong commercial center markethas been issued, the time for propaganda and mobilization will be carried out from March 28, 2023 to April 4, 2023. The People's Committee of Do Luong district also assigned the People's Committees of Do Luong town and Dong Son, Yen Son, and Lac Son communes to continue to organize propaganda, mobilize, and persuade citizens under local management who are illegally doing business at the old market to comply with the termination of business activities and move out of the old market to close the market. Implement the public posting of the Market Closure and Abolition Plan at the headquarters of the People's Committee of the commune, town, and cultural houses of the block and hamlet where citizens are currently doing business at the old market. Widely announce on the mass media about the plan and time of closing and abolishing the old market. At the same time, thoroughly disseminate the implementation plan to all cadres, party members and related individuals. Develop a plan to protect the site and prevent re-encroachment after completing the closure and abolition of the old market. Direct the police force of communes and towns to coordinate with the district police to be responsible for ensuring security and safety for the forces participating in the process of closing and eliminating the old market.

Although the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision to abolish Do Luong Commercial Center Market on April 6, 2022, some businesses refused to move out of the old market area. Photo: Tien Dong

Some households that refuse to relocate still deliberately do business at the old market, despite the fact that the old market management board has been dissolved. Photo: Nhat Lan

Some households have even signed for kiosks at the new market, installed signs, and repaired stalls, but are still dragging their feet at the old market. Photo: Tien Dong

The People's Committee of Do Luong district also assigned the district police to develop a plan, arrange forces and means to protect and ensure security and order before, during and after the closure and removal of the old market. Grasp the situation, promptly detect acts of obstruction, opposition, and resistance against law enforcement officers to apply handling measures to ensure stability of the situation, develop a plan on expertise and professionalism to ensure safety for the forces participating in the process of closing and removing the market...

Also according to the Plan issued by the People's Committee of Do Luong district, the time to close and abolish the old market will start from 7:30 a.m. on April 7, 2023.

Do Luong District People's Committee conducted a dialogue with the people on March 27, 2023. Photo: Thuy Hang

Last dialogue conducted

According to our investigation, right before issuing Decision 807, on the morning of March 27, 2023, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Do Luong district also chaired a dialogue with business households that were violating regulations and refused to move out of the old market area. This is considered the last dialogue before closing to complete the documents and procedures for investing in building the park according to regulations.

Implementing the roadmap to build Do Luong into a town before 2030, currently according to the Master Plan for the distribution network of goods in Nghe An province, as well as the Master Plan for the construction of Do Luong urban area at a scale of 1/10,000..., the Do Luong commercial center market area (old market) will be removed from the distribution network planning, replaced by the planning for the construction of a park area. After completing the closure and removal of the old market, the District People's Committee will proceed to liquidate State assets, clear the land, and at the same time design and make a detailed plan for the park area, in order to meet the needs of entertainment and public activities for the people...

Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh - Vice Chairman of Do Luong District People's Committee

The new market area is spaciously built with full range of business lines. Photo: Nhat Lan

At the dialogue, the traders said that the petitions that people sent were not answered and resolved by the authorities. At the same time, they proposed that some households no longer have the need to do business, and requested to liquidate the contract (not accept rented kiosks at the new market invested in by the Cooperative that builds, manages and operates Hai An Do Luong market as the investor).

Some households requested to rent kiosks at the new market by paying annual kiosk rent at the price regulated by the State, but the kiosk location was stable for the entire life of the project, the kiosk could be transferred when there was no need for business, and the kiosk rental contract had to be signed and confirmed by the District People's Committee. Some poor business households requested that when they opened a new market to do business, they would be exempted from the kiosk rent in the initial period...

Many businesses in the old market, which have now moved to the new market, are very interested in closing the old market to build a park. Photo: Tien Dong

After listening to the opinions of relevant professional departments and the response of the Hai An Do Luong Market Investment, Construction, Management and Operation Cooperative, the Chairman of the Do Luong District People's Committee once again affirmed that all petitions and recommendations sent by business households to the Do Luong District People's Committee and the conclusions of the dialogues between the District People's Committee and business households from 2020 to present have been responded to in writing by the Do Luong District People's Committee and sent to business households at the old market.

For the 5 households that do not have the need to continue doing business or reduce the scale of business and want to propose to liquidate the contract, the People's Committee of Do Luong district agreed to work with the Cooperative for investment, construction, management and exploitation of Hai An Do Luong market and related departments and offices to publicly announce the kiosk locations at the new market that the households do not have the need to rent so that other businesses that are not in the priority category can rent them.

Do Luong New Market has become a bustling trading place, contributing to building Do Luong into a distribution center for goods in the western region of Nghe An. Photo: Nhat Lan

Regarding the proposal to rent kiosks at the new market by paying annual rent at the price prescribed by the State but having the kiosk location stabilized for the entire project life cycle, and being able to transfer the kiosk when there is no business need, it is implemented according to Notice No. 155/TB-UBND dated May 26, 2022 (conclusion of the dialogue between the Chairman of Do Luong District People's Committee and business households on May 24, 2022).

Accordingly, if households choose to pay rent annually, the investor will create conditions for households to stabilize their location for the entire life of the project. However, when the State changes the regulations on the rental price range for sales areas at the market, the investor has the right to change the rental price of sales areas according to regulations. When business households no longer have business needs, they must return the kiosk to the investor and are not allowed to arbitrarily transfer the kiosk to others or give, donate, or inherit it.

The kiosks at the new market are spacious and have lines drawn to neatly arrange the goods. Photo: Tien Dong

For poor households (according to the State's poverty standards) who have proposed support for reducing annual kiosk rental fees, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Do Luong district also requested that households report to the People's Committee of the commune or town where they reside to make a list and report to the District People's Committee, no later than 10:00 a.m. on April 3, 2023, so that the District People's Committee can propose a solution according to regulations.

In fact, in the new market area invested in, managed and exploited by the Hai An Do Luong Market Cooperative, we found that this area has an area of ​​about 3.4 hectares, with more than 1,200 spacious kiosks built, with many business areas for agricultural products, vegetables, fruits, general merchandise, clothing, fabrics, electronics, etc.

The distance between the market stalls is spacious, creating conditions for vehicles to load and unload goods and ensuring fire prevention work. Photo: Tien Dong

Many households from the old market area who have now moved to the new market are also very concerned about the closure and removal of the old market. They believe that this is extremely necessary to move towards building a park, helping the people of Do Luong town in the future have a place to play and participate in cultural activities. At the same time, it is to show fairness to the households who have agreed on the policy and moved first. Avoid the situation where households who are slow to move and move later demand more benefits.

Currently, the new market area has become a bustling business and trading location, turning Do Luong into a major hub, supplying agricultural products, vegetables, fruits and other goods to districts in the western mountainous region.

Obviously, closing and abolishing Do Luong shopping mall market is a correct policy, in line with the development of Do Luong urban area. In addition to implementing the policy of the Provincial People's Committee, it also creates conditions for Do Luong district to soon deploy the construction of the park according to the proposed plan. Avoid prolonging, leading to missed opportunities to attract investment resources.