Cities pledge to demolish dangerous, derelict housing

VietNamNet Bridge - The people’s committees of Ha Noi and HCM City have recently decided to rebuild some residential buildings that face being condemned, beginning in 2010.

These efforts aim to urgently remove households from the seriously degraded buildings, to ensure their safety, according to the committees.

Under the decision by the Ha Noi People’s Committee, I1-I2-I3 buildings of Thanh Cong Residential Quarter and C7-B6 buildings of Giang Vo Residential Quarter in Dong Da District, E6-E7 buildings of Quynh Mai Residential Quarter and Nguyen Cong Tru Residential Quarter in Hai Ba Trung District will be demolished and rebuilt in January.

According to the decision, the removed households will be granted favourable compensation, trying to move them to the same floor, and the same or larger living area as their previous apartments.

After the apartments are finished, residents will then be moved back to a larger living area.

"The city is creating favourable conditions for us to move from the old flats to ensure our safety. It’s nice," said Pham Tung Anh in I1 Building of Thanh Cong Residential Area who plans to stay with her parents while the work is being done.

Compensation

The People’s Committee of HCM City also asked 2,000 households from 289 Tran Hung Dao Street, 74 Ho Hao Hon Street of District 1, 727 Tran Hung Dao Street of District 5 and the residential quarter on 505/12 Binh Dong Street of District 8 to move from their old and degraded buildings, offering them total compensation of up to VND1,780 billion (US$111.2 million).

According to the committee, from now to 2010, the city will have finished upgrading these buildings to offer accommodation for 3,700 households.

After 2010, the city plans to rebuild 156 old residential buildings, needing to move more than 14,000 households.

The committee has entrusted the municipal construction department to supervise and keep an eye on the relocation of residents, and the construction work.

The chairmen of district-level people’s committees will be responsible for implementing the projects on schedule.

"I hope that after the new buildings are finished, the city will continue to offer good conditions with reasonable prices for us to buy the new flats because most of us living in the old buildings are low-paid workers," said Tung Anh.

Source: VNS