Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa requested the police to clarify violations in the apartment complex.

On the afternoon of July 21, the 15th session of the Provincial People's Council, term XVII, 2016 - 2021, conducted a direct question-and-answer session in the hall.

FIXED ABOUT 80% OF VIOLATIONS

Reporting at the 15th Session of the 17th Provincial People's Council on the content related to the management and implementation of urban land use projects in the province, Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang - Director of the Department of Construction said that with the advisory function, the Department of Construction and other departments focus on handling the existing problems that Resolution 26/2017/NQ-HDND of the Provincial People's Council pointed out.

Up to now, the Department of Construction has completed the database system on urban land use projects, integrated it into the national housing and real estate market information system. Strictly evaluate the investment preparation work of urban land use projects, and do not approve high-rise apartment building projects in residential areas when conditions are not met...

Overview of the questioning session on the afternoon of July 21. Photo: Thanh Cuong

As of June 30, 2020, the total number of completed high-rise apartment buildings put into use in the province is 89. Of which, 35 apartment buildings were completed and put into use before April 15, 2013 and 54 apartment buildings were completed and put into use after April 15, 2013.

There are still 11 projects that have not been inspected and accepted for completion. The reason is that the investor has not yet reported the completion of 3 projects; the investor has not yet completed the correction of shortcomings in construction quality management according to the inspection results in 8 projects. The rate of granting Land Use Right Certificates for apartment buildings is 63.36%, and for low-rise housing is 42.3%.

Reporting on the implementation of Inspection Conclusion No. 551/KL-UBND dated September 13, 2014 of the Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang said that,Overall, to date, the projects have corrected about 80% of the violations pointed out in the inspection conclusions.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang - Director of the Department of Construction reported on the implementation results of Resolution 26 of the Provincial People's Council. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Regarding construction planning, there are 8 apartment buildings built in violation of the approved planning (exceeding 1 floor). Up to now, 8/8 projects have been inspected for quality and concluded that the construction ensures load-bearing safety. The Provincial People's Committee has approved the adjustment of planning for 7 high-rise apartment buildings.

Regarding construction investment, there are still 19 apartment buildings that have not yet been completely resolved. Regarding construction quality management, up to now, 4/13 buildings have been accepted for inspection, and 9/13 are continuing to complete procedures to be accepted for inspection.

In addition, there are 3 apartment buildings of 2 investors that have not yet completed land registration and have not paid land use fees to the State budget. There are 4 apartment buildings that have been put into use but have not been accepted by the State management agency and have not yet been confirmed to have completed environmental protection and environmental pollution reduction work.

Quang Trung Ward (Vinh City) is one of the places with the most apartment buildings in the province. Photo: Thanh Cuong

PROMISE TO COMPLETELY RESOLVE EXISTING PROBLEMS BY THE END OF 2020

Delegate Tran Duy Ngoan wondered whether there was lax management and signs of group interests in the assessment of investors' financial capacity. Have any officials in the construction industry been punished for violations and shortcomings in construction and inspection?

Delegate Tran Duy Ngoan raised the question of whether there is lax management and signs of group interests in assessing the financial capacity of investors. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Delegate Phan Thi Thanh Thuy raised the question, there is currently one apartment building that has not yet accepted fire prevention work, 19 apartment buildings have not yet been completely repaired, and there are even apartment buildings that have extra floors. She requested to clarify the responsibility of the authorities and solutions to overcome the above situation.

Answering the questions of the delegates, Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang - Director of the Department of Construction acknowledged the current situation and saw some responsibility of the industry, despite great efforts, there are still problems that have not been resolved. Since the implementation of Resolution 26 of the Provincial People's Council, the department has not yet advised on the approval of any apartment project in Vinh City.

Mr. Giang also affirmed that after the Provincial People's Council issued the Resolution and the Provincial People's Committee issued the conclusion of the comprehensive inspection, the Department seriously pointed out the errors, not missing any. At the same time, he said that many of the reasons leading to the above errors were due to the investor; legal documents have not kept up with reality...

Further clarifying the work of assessing the financial capacity of investors, the acting Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duc, said that regarding the work of assessing the financial capacity of investors, it is divided into 2 stages, before and after July 1, 2015. Mr. Duc affirmed that at each stage, the department has assessed to ensure the procedures are in accordance with regulations and are strict.

The Acting Director of the Department of Planning and Investment further clarified the content of the investor capacity assessment. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Delegate Tran Dinh Toan raised the question, in October 2018, the Prime Minister issued Directive 29 on strengthening the effectiveness of State management over the management, operation and use of apartment buildings. He requested the Director of the Department of Construction to inform how the department advised the Provincial People's Committee to implement this Directive, and what were the actual results and effectiveness?

Delegate Ngo Thi Thu Hien raised the question, according to the inspection conclusion of the Provincial People's Committee, there are 3 apartment buildings that have not been registered for land use, have not paid land use fees... but have been sold to people for use. This shows the disregard for law enforcement by investors and the weakness of relevant State management agencies.

The delegate asked the department to inform him of the measures to resolve these cases. In addition, there are 8 apartment buildings built beyond the floors. With the responsibility of a State agency, do the appraisal results ensure scientific safety and objectivity?

Delegate Ngo Thi Thu Hien asked a question. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Responding to the delegate's question, Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang - Director of the Department of Construction said that after the Prime Minister issued Directive 29, the department advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a document, specifying the responsibilities of agencies related to the management of apartment buildings. However, the implementation efficiency of this document is still modest.

Mr. Giang said that the fact that residents moved into the apartment building before it was inspected and accepted was the responsibility of the investor and the ward and commune. At the same time, he affirmed that the 8 apartment buildings that were built with extra floors had been assessed for safety and the Department of Construction was jointly responsible for the assessment unit's conclusions.

Many apartment buildings are located in a crowded residential area. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Delegate Luc Thi Lien asked that many previously built apartment buildings do not meet standards, so she requested the industry and the Provincial People's Committee to find solutions to the above situation. In addition, many apartment buildings have not yet corrected their violations. Delegate Cao Thi Thuy asked to clarify the use of maintenance funds in degraded apartment buildings.

Responding to the delegates' opinions, Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang said that he felt responsible and concerned. However, these apartments were built many years ago, due to the great demand of the people, associated with the elimination of collective housing. In the coming time, the Construction industry will continue to overcome this situation and request the Vinh City People's Committee to coordinate in handling the existing problem.

Mr. Giang affirmed that by the end of 2020, the existing problems in apartment projects will be thoroughly handled, except for 3 apartment buildings that have not paid land use fees.

Regarding the maintenance fund and management of apartment buildings, Mr. Le Sy Chien - Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee said that in principle, the management and use of apartment buildings are voluntary commitments between the parties. Currently, there are some problems such as apartment buildings do not have a management board, maintenance costs are not specifically regulated. For investors, it is mandatory, but for residents, it must be mobilized.

Mr. Le Sy Chien - Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee clarified the issue of managing apartment maintenance funds. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Concerned about the situation of people moving into apartments before they have been accepted for use, Mr. Chien said that people have enough reasons to move in, while the State agency cannot fine them. As for the investor, he said that because the house has not been handed over, the State agency has no basis to fine them. The cause of this situation is essentially a civil dispute between the two parties, both of which have legitimate reasons.

There is a state of loose management.

Responding and clarifying some issues, Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that this situation was due to history left over from before 2014, when the Housing Law had not yet come into effect. Building apartments at that time was very easy, so it left behind consequences.

Regarding the CT02 apartment building of Thanh Vinh Investment, Production and Trade Joint Stock Company in Hung Binh Ward, comrade Le Ngoc Hoa requested the Vinh Provincial and City Police to clarify, and if necessary, transfer the case to the investigation agency for criminal handling, not to let people live in unsafe conditions regarding fire prevention and fighting, and the Provincial People's Committee will direct the strict handling of this issue.

Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that there is a situation of lax management in construction management. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Disagreeing with the blame on people's awareness when moving into an apartment building before handover, comrade Le Ngoc Hoa said that the first responsibility lies with the investor. The Provincial People's Committee needs to apply all laws to clarify responsibilities, and if necessary, can bring criminal charges.

Affirming that there is laxity in construction management, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that if there was no laxity, how could there be 8 apartment buildings with extra floors, and only then did we know about it.

Regarding solutions in the coming time, the Provincial People's Committee will tighten the management of construction, especially apartment buildings, to avoid any overlapping. Closely monitor the construction process, and at the same time develop specific regulations to notify investors and require investors to complete the regulations.

Concluding the questioning session of the Department of Construction, comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council said that the management of urban land and apartment buildings is of great concern to voters, but some pressing issues have arisen.

In 2016, the Provincial People's Council questioned, in 2017 it supervised and in 2019 it organized explanations. This shows that the Provincial People's Council is very interested and determined to follow up and thoroughly resolve the existing problems that voters are concerned about and have made recommendations.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council concluded the question and answer session. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The chairman highly appreciated the sense of responsibility of the Director of the Department of Construction, acknowledged the leaders of sectors and localities for their active and responsible participation in answering questions, contributing to clarifying the issues raised by the Provincial People's Council, to contribute to consideration and resolution.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son assessed that the management and implementation of urban land use projects is a big and difficult problem, not only current but also historical. Looking back over the past time, after the conclusions, the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Construction and related sectors have made efforts to overcome the shortcomings pointed out.

However, there are still many shortcomings in high-rise and apartment projects. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Council requested the Provincial People's Committee, branches and localities to make every effort and actively implement the proposed solutions. At the same time, he requested the Provincial People's Committee to resolve 6 issues including: Continuing to direct the implementation of Notices, Resolutions and Conclusions. It is necessary to develop specific plans and solutions to handle existing violations and remove the mentioned difficulties. It is recommended to consider including in public investment in the 2021-2025 period the infrastructure connecting the interspersed apartment buildings.

In addition, it is necessary to strengthen inspection and supervision of progress, resolutely handle suspended projects, land hoarding projects, and select investors with capacity and qualifications; When extending urban land use projects, it must be considered very closely; Do a good job of inspection, appraisal, acceptance of construction quality, and operation management; Take measures to improve the responsibility of investors, including in construction, operation management, fire prevention and fighting... Strictly handle investors who intentionally violate, commit major violations, and intentionally delay.

In particular, it is necessary to promote the responsibility of relevant departments, branches and localities; It is recommended to pay attention to public service inspection and the responsibility of heads of agencies, units and localities. Agencies continue to advise the Provincial People's Committee to issue documents with more effort and determination to meet the requirements and aspirations of voters.

Pham Bang